N286: Missing/incomplete/invalid referring provider primary identifier
Similar to N265 but for the referring provider: the claim is missing the referring provider's NPI or it does not match a valid, enrolled provider record.
Corrective actions
- 1
Verify the referring provider's NPI
Confirm the referring provider's NPI in NPPES and check it against the claim's referring provider loop for typos or transposed digits.
- 2
Resubmit with corrected referring provider information
Update the claim with the verified NPI and name, then resubmit as a corrected claim.
Denial codes it is usually paired with
N286 is the detail behind a CARC rather than an adjustment in its own right. These are the denial codes our dataset records it alongside.
Frequently asked questions
What does remark code N286 mean?
Similar to N265 but for the referring provider: the claim is missing the referring provider's NPI or it does not match a valid, enrolled provider record.
Retrieved 2026-07-18.
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Denial7 provides billing and administrative guidance based on published CMS and X12 sources. It is not medical advice, not a coverage determination, and not a guarantee of payment. NCCI and MUE edits are republished quarterly and payer policies vary by contract. Always confirm against the payer's own current policy before submitting or appealing.