Claim edit: Attachment control number for an attachment available on request
Stedi now rejects 837P professional, 837D dental, and 837I institutional claims that include an attachment control number for an attachment that's only available on request.
Attachment transmission codes and control numbers
A claim can reference attachments, such as X-rays or treatment plans. The attachment transmission code says how the provider sends each attachment to the payer. The AA (Available on Request at Provider Site) code means the provider doesn't send it. The payer must ask for it.
Attachment transmission code
| Claim type | JSON API field | X12 element |
|---|---|---|
| 837P professional | Claim Submission API: claimInformation.claimSupplementalInformation.reportInformations[].attachmentTransmissionCode and claimInformation.serviceLines[].serviceLineSupplementalInformation[].attachmentTransmissionCodeCMS-1500 API: encounter.attachments[].transmissionCode and serviceLines[].attachments[].transmissionCode | PWK-02 (Attachment Transmission Code) of Loop 2300 (Claim Information) and Loop 2400 (Service Line Number) |
| 837D dental | claimInformation.claimSupplementalInformation.reportInformations[].attachmentTransmissionCode | PWK-02 (Attachment Transmission Code) of Loop 2300 (Claim Information) |
| 837I institutional | claimInformation.claimSupplementalInformation.reportInformations[].attachmentTransmissionCode and claimInformation.serviceLines[].serviceLineSupplementalInformations[].attachmentTransmissionCode | PWK-02 (Attachment Transmission Code) of Loop 2300 (Claim Information) and Loop 2400 (Service Line Number) |
The attachment control number lets the payer match an attachment to the claim.
Attachment control number
| Claim type | JSON API field | X12 element |
|---|---|---|
| 837P professional | Claim Submission API: claimInformation.claimSupplementalInformation.reportInformations[].attachmentControlNumber and claimInformation.serviceLines[].serviceLineSupplementalInformation[].attachmentControlNumberCMS-1500 API: encounter.attachments[].attachmentControlNumber and serviceLines[].attachments[].attachmentControlNumber | PWK-06 (Attachment Control Number) of Loop 2300 (Claim Information) and Loop 2400 (Service Line Number) |
| 837D dental | claimInformation.claimSupplementalInformation.reportInformations[].attachmentControlNumber | PWK-06 (Attachment Control Number) of Loop 2300 (Claim Information) |
| 837I institutional | claimInformation.claimSupplementalInformation.reportInformations[].attachmentControlNumber and claimInformation.serviceLines[].serviceLineSupplementalInformations[].attachmentControlNumber | PWK-06 (Attachment Control Number) of Loop 2300 (Claim Information) and Loop 2400 (Service Line Number) |
How the edit works
An attachment that's only available on request has nothing for the payer to match. X12 HIPAA standards say to leave out the attachment control number in this case. If the claim includes one, the payer may reject the claim.
This edit catches the issue before the claim reaches the payer. It prevents payer rejections, which take longer to resolve and delay payment for the provider.
Rejection errors
How you get the error depends on how you submit the claim.
If you submit a claim using Stedi's Claim Submission API endpoints and the claim fails the edit, you'll get back an error response in real time. The response includes details in the errors array:
{
"errors": [
{
"code": "33",
"description": "Invalid Attachment Control Number. When the attachment transmission code is 'AA' (Available on Request at Provider Site) the attachment control number must not be submitted. Correct and resubmit.",
"followupAction": "Please Correct and Resubmit"
}
]
}Professional claims submitted through the Create Professional Claim (CMS-1500) JSON endpoint can't fail this edit. The endpoint doesn't send an attachment control number for attachments that are available on request.
If you submit a claim using SFTP and the claim fails the edit, Stedi will reject the claim with a 277CA claim acknowledgment. The acknowledgment will include a related claim status category code, claim status code, and error message:
STC*A7>489*[DATE]*U*[AMOUNT]******A7>732**Invalid Attachment Control Number. When the attachment transmission code is 'AA' (Available on Request at Provider Site) the attachment control number must not be submitted. Correct and resubmit.~Related claim edits
Stedi has another edit for attachments the provider sends without an attachment control number. See Missing attachment control number.