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CARC Code Reference

CARC 181: Procedure code was invalid on the date of service.

Procedure code was invalid on the date of service.

Group code CO or PI
Category Coding
Risk level High
Appealable Yes

Common RARC pairings

RARCs (Remittance Advice Remark Codes) provide the specific reason detail alongside CARC 181 on the 835 electronic remittance. These are the RARCs seen most often with this CARC.

RARCMeaning
M20 Missing/incomplete/invalid HCPCS.
N56 Procedure code billed is not correct/valid for the services billed or the date of service billed.
N517 Resubmit a new claim with the requested information.

See the full resolution workflow for CARC 181

Members of the EDI-Code Intelligence Lab get the step-by-step rework path, appeal language, root-cause drivers, and prevention checklist for every CARC and RARC pairing, plus payer-specific quirks.

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