Remark code N61 indicates that services should be rebilled on separate claims for proper processing.
Remark code N61 indicates that the services in question should be rebilled on separate claims. This means that the payer has identified that the services provided were incorrectly billed together on a single claim and must be resubmitted as individual claims for each service to be processed correctly.
Common causes of code N61 are:
1. Services were bundled incorrectly on the initial claim, requiring them to be separated and rebilled on individual claims.
2. The initial claim included multiple services that are not typically billed together, prompting the need for separate claims.
3. The payer's billing guidelines or policies mandate certain services to be billed on separate claims, which was not adhered to in the original submission.
4. There may have been an error or oversight in the claim preparation process, leading to the inclusion of services that should have been itemized separately.
5. The claim may have included services that span different service dates or episodes of care that need to be distinguished on separate claims for proper processing.
6. The payer may require services rendered by different providers or at different locations to be billed separately, which was not done in the initial claim.
7. The initial claim might have been submitted with incorrect coding that grouped services together, which are not allowed to be combined according to the payer's reimbursement rules.
Ways to mitigate code N61 include ensuring that services are billed on separate claims when they are not related or when payer guidelines require individual claim submissions. This can be achieved by:
1. Training billing staff on the specific billing requirements of each payer, including when to split services into separate claims.
2. Implementing a robust billing system that can flag services that typically require separate claims based on historical data and payer rules.
3. Conducting regular audits of claim submissions to identify patterns that may lead to N61 denials and adjusting billing practices accordingly.
4. Establishing clear communication channels between the clinical and billing departments to ensure that all services are accurately documented and billed in compliance with payer requirements.
5. Keeping up-to-date with changes in billing regulations and payer policies to prevent the bundling of services that should be billed separately.
The steps to address code N61 involve reviewing the claim to identify the services that were bundled together. Once identified, separate the services into individual claims, ensuring that each service is accurately coded with the correct procedure codes, dates of service, and any necessary modifiers. After separating the services, resubmit each claim individually following your standard claims submission process. It's important to double-check payer-specific billing guidelines to ensure that the rebilled claims are in compliance with the payer's requirements for individual service claims. Monitor the status of the resubmitted claims to confirm they are processed correctly and to address any further issues promptly.
Get paid in full by bringing clarity to your revenue cycle
Subscribe to the
Healthcare Clarified newsletter
Get the latest insights on RCM and healthcare policy in your inbox
