DME MACs Only - Appeals of Duplicate Claims - Reasone code N111

The Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractors (DME MACs) must afford appeal rights for the initial determination of an item or service only, unless the supplier is appealing whether or not the denied item is actually a duplicate. If a claim is denied as a duplicate, the DME MACs must not afford appeal rights based on coverage, medical necessity, pricing, or any basis on which the supplier can otherwise appeal. The DME MAC may only afford appeal rights on claims denied as duplicates if the supplier is appealing because the claim is not, in fact, a duplicate. If a supplier appeals a denied duplicate claim on the basis that the claim is not, in fact a duplicate, the DME MAC shall adjudicate the claim in accordance with all other Medicare rules and regulations.


The DME MACs must use the following Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) and ASC X12 835 remittance messages when denying duplicate claims:

MSN 7.3 – This service/item is a duplicate of a previously processed service. No appeal rights are attached to the denial of this service except for the issue as to whether the service is a duplicate. Disregard the appeals information on this notice unless you are appealing whether the service is a duplicate. Spanish – Este servicio/artículo es un duplicado de otro servicio procesado previamente. No tiene derechos de apelación de este servicio, excepto si cuestiona que este servicio es un duplicado. Haga casa omiso a la información sobre apelaciones en esta notification, en relación a sus derechos de apelación, a menos que este apelando si el servicio fue duplicado.

Claim adjustment reason code 18:- Duplicate claim/service

Remittance advice remark code N111 – This service was included in a claim that was previously billed and adjudicated. No appeal rights attached except with regard to whether the service/item is a duplicate.