Skip to main content

N920 Remark Code: Payment Held for Contract Negotiation

N920 means payment to the provider has been placed on hold because of active contract negotiation or renegotiation. The claim is not necessarily denied, but the payer is withholding payment until the contract situation is resolved.

Quick facts

Code
N920 (RARC N920)
Status
Active In use since March 1, 2026.
Code set
Remittance Advice Remark Codes (RARC)
Group codes
  • CO (Contractual Obligation): The held amount. It is a payer-provider matter tied to your contract and is not the patient's responsibility.
  • OA (Other Adjustment): Some payers report a payment hold as an other adjustment while the status is pending.
Official description
Payment to the provider has been placed on hold as a result of active contract (re)negotiation.
X12 Remittance Advice Remark Codes, retrieved September 25, 2026
Last verified
against the official X12 list.

What N920 means

When a provider contract is expiring or being renegotiated, rate terms can be uncertain. Some payers respond by holding payments until the new agreement, or a decision to end the relationship, is in place. N920 labels claims caught in that hold.

The remark does not tell you what the final payment will be. It tells you the claim is waiting on the contract, not on anything wrong with the claim itself.

What to do

  1. Tell your contracting lead. Held payments are useful context in negotiations.
  2. Quantify the exposure by listing all claims with N920 and their charges.
  3. Review the current contract for terms on renewal, rate continuation, and payment during disputes.
  4. Keep billing within timely filing limits so claims are ready for release.
  5. Follow up once the contract is signed to make sure held claims are paid at the correct rate. An ERA Analyzer report can track held claims until they clear.

Also check

If you believe your contract is active and not under negotiation, contact the payer’s provider relations team. The hold could be applied to the wrong tax ID or provider record.

Codes that may appear with N920

  • CO-147 (Provider contracted/negotiated rate expired or not on file.): The provider's contracted rate has expired or is not on file, a common companion during renegotiation.
  • CO-143 (Portion of payment deferred.): A portion of payment was deferred.
  • N381 (Alert: Consult our contractual agreement for restrictions/billing/payment information related to these charges.): Points to your contractual agreement for payment terms.
  • CO-256 (Service not payable per managed care contract.): The service is not payable under the managed care contract.
  • N894 (Alert: These payments are made subject to a reservation of rights for the Payor to recoup or otherwise recover all or part of these payments based…): Payment was made, but subject to a reservation of rights.

N920 FAQ

Can a payer legally hold payment during negotiations?

It depends on your existing contract, state prompt-pay laws, and program rules. Review the contract's term, termination, and continuation-of-care language, and consult counsel if the hold is significant.

Should I keep submitting claims?

Generally yes, so claims stay within timely filing limits. Held claims can be released once the contract is settled.

Can I bill the patient?

No. The hold concerns your contract with the payer, not the patient's benefits.