Skip to main content
Call
RARC M62 · Remittance Advice Remark Code

RARC M62 Remark Code: Missing/incomplete/invalid treatment authorization code

Reviewed by QuickIntell RCM Editorial Team · Last reviewed

Updated

Not an ICD-10 code. RARC M62 is a remittance-advice remark code published by X12 and carried on the 835 LQ segment. Any ICD-10 code with the same letters and digits (e.g., ICD-10 M15 osteoarthritis, N130 other urinary tract disorders) is a separate, unrelated code set used in diagnoses on the 837. Confirm the context before acting on this page.

TL;DR

RARC M62 (X12 Missing/incomplete/invalid treatment authorization code). Commonly paired with CARC 197, CARC 198. RARC M62 accompanies a prior-authorization denial (usually CARC 197 or 198).

Official X12 description

“Missing/incomplete/invalid treatment authorization code.”

Source: X12 Remittance Advice Remark Codes. X12 publishes and maintains the RARC set; always verify against the current release before building a claim workflow.

Paired CARC codes

RARC M62 almost never appears alone — it accompanies one of the CARCs below on the same 835 remittance line. Fix the CARC and the RARC typically clears; the RARC alone is informational.

Paired CARCWhat the CARC means
CARC 197Precertification/authorization/notification/pre-treatment absent.
CARC 198Precertification/notification/authorization/pre-treatment exceeded.
CARC B15This service/procedure requires that a qualifying service/procedure be received and covered. The qualifying other service/procedure has not been received/adjud…

What RARC M62 actually means

RARC M62 accompanies a prior-authorization denial (usually CARC 197 or 198). It indicates that the authorization code on the claim is missing, does not exist in the payer's PA system, or is malformed. The fix is almost always to locate the correct authorization number and submit a corrected claim — a true appeal is only needed when the PA was denied on the merits rather than missing.

Common root causes

  • Authorization number was never added to the claim.
  • Authorization number was entered incorrectly (typo, wrong year, wrong segment).
  • Authorization was for a different code / date / provider than the one billed.

Prevention checklist

  • Scheduling-level PA-authorization capture that flows onto the claim.
  • Validate authorization-number format against the payer's published schema before submission.

Resolution & appeal strategy — step by step

Because RARC M62 is supplemental to a CARC, the resolution path usually starts by fixing the underlying adjustment reason. A formal appeal of the RARC alone is rarely necessary.

  1. 1Work the underlying CARC 197/198 — M62 alone does not need an appeal, it needs a corrected claim with the right authorization number.
  2. 2If the authorization was obtained but for a different code, appeal with the authorization letter and rationale for the code change.
Sample reconsideration language referencing RARC M62
[Provider letterhead] Re: Reconsideration — Claim #{claim_number}, CARC 197 / RARC M62 Member: {member_name} · Member ID: {member_id} Date(s) of Service: {dos} The 835 remittance on {remittance_date} carried RARC M62: "Missing/incomplete/invalid treatment authorization code." We request reconsideration. The attached documentation rebuts the remark code: 1. [State the fact that rebuts the remark — authorization number, primary 835, modifier rationale, LCD citation, etc.] 2. [Reference the paired CARC and the corresponding fix] 3. [Attach the supporting document listed in step 1] Attached: {list supporting documents} Please process this line under the member's benefits. Contact the billing office at {provider_phone} for questions. Sincerely, {billing_manager_name}, {credentials}

Edit the bracketed fields before sending. Payer-specific reconsideration forms are often required — check the provider portal first.

How common is RARC M62?

Platform frequency
Pending ETL

Platform frequency ranks publish once the anonymized denial-rate pipeline reaches the publication threshold (strategy §12 Phase 2).

How QuickRCM handles RARC M62

QuickRCM reads RARC M62 alongside its paired CARC in the 835 LQ segment and routes the line to the correct worker queue with the right documentation already attached:

  • Denial routing rules tuned to the CARC+RARC pair — the paired combination tells QuickRCM which documentation the payer will accept.
  • Reconsideration template for this exact remark code pulls the supporting facts from the claim automatically.
  • Pre-submission scrubs that catch the preventable drivers surfaced on this page before the 837 leaves the clearinghouse.
See QuickRCM →Book a demo

Frequently asked questions — RARC M62

What does RARC M62 mean?

RARC M62 is an X12 Remittance Advice Remark Code. The official X12 definition is: "Missing/incomplete/invalid treatment authorization code." It is supplemental to a Claim Adjustment Reason Code (CARC) on the same 835 line.

Which CARC is paired with RARC M62?

RARC M62 is most commonly paired with CARC 197, CARC 198, CARC B15. The CARC is the financial adjustment reason; the RARC is the informational remark. Fix the paired CARC first — the RARC usually clears with the corrected claim.

How do I resolve a RARC M62 remark on a remit?

Start from the root cause: Authorization number was never added to the claim. First step: Work the underlying CARC 197/198 — M62 alone does not need an appeal, it needs a corrected claim with the right authorization number. Because RARCs are supplemental, the resolution is almost always to address the paired CARC rather than appeal the RARC alone.

Where does RARC M62 appear on the 835 ERA?

RARC M62 is carried on the 835 Loop 2110 LQ segment alongside the CARC in the CAS segment of the same service line. The code and its X12 description also print on the paper EOB in the "Remark Code" or "Remark" column next to the corresponding denial or adjustment reason.

Is RARC M62 the same as ICD-10 code M62?

No. RARC M62 is a remittance-advice remark code published by X12 and carried on the 835. Any ICD-10 code with the same letters and digits is a diagnosis code on the 837 HI segment — a completely different code set maintained by the WHO/CMS. Use the transaction context (835 = RARC; 837 = ICD-10) to disambiguate.

Disclaimer

This page is operational reference for medical-billing professionals. It is not legal, clinical, or contractual advice. X12 code descriptors are maintained by the X12 External Code Lists; always verify against the current X12 release and the payer's own published policy before submitting or appealing a claim.