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RARC N173 · Remittance Advice Remark Code

RARC N173 Remark Code: No qualifying hospital stay dates were provided for this episode of care

Reviewed by QuickIntell RCM Editorial Team · Last reviewed

Updated

Not an ICD-10 code. RARC N173 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 N173 (X12 No qualifying hospital stay dates were provided for this episode of care). Commonly paired with CARC A6, CARC B15. RARC N173 denies SNF admission claims without qualifying hospital stay dates.

Official X12 description

“No qualifying hospital stay dates were provided for this episode of care.”

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 N173 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 A6Prior hospitalization or 30 day transfer requirement not met.
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 N173 actually means

RARC N173 denies SNF admission claims without qualifying hospital stay dates. Provide qualifying stay and resubmit.

Common root causes

  • Qualifying stay dates missing from claim.

Prevention checklist

  • SNF admission workflow captures qualifying stay dates.

Resolution & appeal strategy — step by step

Because RARC N173 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. 1Submit qualifying stay documentation and resubmit.
Sample reconsideration language referencing RARC N173
[Provider letterhead] Re: Reconsideration — Claim #{claim_number}, CARC A6 / RARC N173 Member: {member_name} · Member ID: {member_id} Date(s) of Service: {dos} The 835 remittance on {remittance_date} carried RARC N173: "No qualifying hospital stay dates were provided for this episode of care." 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 N173?

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 N173

QuickRCM reads RARC N173 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.
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Frequently asked questions — RARC N173

What does RARC N173 mean?

RARC N173 is an X12 Remittance Advice Remark Code. The official X12 definition is: "No qualifying hospital stay dates were provided for this episode of care." It is supplemental to a Claim Adjustment Reason Code (CARC) on the same 835 line.

Which CARC is paired with RARC N173?

RARC N173 is most commonly paired with CARC A6, 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 N173 remark on a remit?

Start from the root cause: Qualifying stay dates missing from claim. First step: Submit qualifying stay documentation and resubmit. Because RARCs are supplemental, the resolution is almost always to address the paired CARC rather than appeal the RARC alone.

Where does RARC N173 appear on the 835 ERA?

RARC N173 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 N173 the same as ICD-10 code N173?

No. RARC N173 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.