N846 remark code
The drug's National Drug Code on the claim doesn't correspond to the HCPCS or CPT code billed for it.
“National Drug Code (NDC) supplied does not correspond to the HCPCs/CPT billed.”
Start 03/01/2021 · X12 remark code list
What it usually means in behavioral health
Behavioral health practices bill drug codes more than people expect, especially long-acting injectable antipsychotics and other psychiatric injectables. Those lines usually need the product's NDC reported with the HCPCS code, and the two have to describe the same drug.
Common causes
- NDC from a different product, strength, or package than the HCPCS code describes
- NDC entered in the wrong format (claims generally use the 11-digit, 5-4-2 format)
- A product change in the pharmacy or supply chain that wasn't updated in billing
- Drug units on the claim that don't reconcile with the HCPCS code's billing unit
Correct and resubmit, or appeal?
Correct and resubmit with the NDC of the product actually administered, in the payer's required format and with correct units.
What to do
Check the administered product's NDC against the HCPCS code's drug description.
Fix the NDC format and the unit conversion.
Resubmit, and add NDC-to-HCPCS validation to charge entry.
Often seen with
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