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Medicare Remark Code N382 on Your Claim, Explained
Also called: N382, RARC N382, Remark Code N382
Last reviewed 2026-07-16
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What this notice usually means
Remark code N382 means missing, incomplete, or invalid patient identifier. Medicare uses it when a claim does not show your correct Medicare Number. Medicare calls this number your MBI. This code pairs with reason code CO-16 on a remittance advice. Together they tell a provider's office that Medicare could not process the claim yet. N382 is not Medicare deciding it will not pay for your care. It means the claim needs a fix before Medicare can review it. Since August 2018, N382 replaced an older code called MA61 for this same kind of identifier problem. Medicare usually does not mail you a separate notice about this code. Your provider or supplier is the one who sees it and fixes the identifier before sending the claim again.
See every source line for this notice
“Remittance Advice Remark Code (RARC) N382 - Missing/incomplete/invalid patient identifier.”
“RARC MA61, within Pub 100-04, Chapters 1 and 27, is being replaced with RARC N382 and Medicare Administrative Contractors shall use N382 in place of MA61 to communicate reject/denials for patient identifiers (HICN or MBI) in all remittance advices and 835 transactions.”
“EFFECTIVE DATE: August 13, 2018 - Effective Date is Process Date”
“Group Code: CO CARC: 16 RARC: N382 MSN: N/A”
“Claim/service lacks information or has submission/billing error(s) which is needed for adjudication.”
“The A/B MACs (B) and DME MACs shall not mail an MSN for these claims.”
“Your card has a Medicare Number that’s unique to you”
“You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to order a replacement card to be sent in the mail.”
What to do now
- 1
Check your Medicare card for the right number
Your Medicare Number is on your card. It is not your Social Security Number. Compare it, digit by digit, to the number your provider's office has on file for you.
- 2
Ask the provider's office to fix and resend the claim
N382 usually means the billing office needs to fix your Medicare Number. Call them. Ask them to check the number and send the claim again.
- 3
Look for this visit on your Medicare Summary Notice
Your MSN lists claims Medicare has finished processing. If this visit is not listed yet, the claim may still be stuck at the identifier step. Match the date of service and the provider name.
- 4
Get a replacement card if yours is lost or wrong
Log in to your Medicare account to print your card. Or call 1-800-MEDICARE. They can mail you a new one.
- 5
Call 1-800-MEDICARE if the claim still will not process
Call 1-800-633-4227 (TTY 1-877-486-2048) if your provider fixed the number and the claim still does not show up as processed.
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Sources
- CMS Manual System, Pub. 100-04 Medicare Claims Processing, Transmittal 4047, Change Request 10619 (cms.gov)Retrieved 2026-07-16
- Medicare.gov, Your Medicare CardRetrieved 2026-07-16
Last reviewed 2026-07-16
Related notices
Related words
Medicare Summary Notice (MSN)
The Medicare Summary Notice is a paper statement. Original Medicare sends it. It lists your care. It also lists what Medicare paid, about every 6 months.
Explanation of Benefits (EOB)
An Explanation of Benefits is a statement from your health plan. It shows what a claim cost, what the plan paid, and what you may owe.
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