M47 remark code

Remittance advice remark code M47. Remark codes add detail to the reason code on the same claim line.

Missing or invalid original claim number

Unofficial reference. This is our own plain-English explanation, not the official code text. Payer rules differ. Verify with the payer and the official X12 code list. AlphaPrefix is not affiliated with X12, CMS or any payer. Data last updated Nov 11, 2026.

What M47 means

The claim refers to an earlier claim, but the payer's claim control number given for it is missing or not valid.

When you send a corrected or replacement claim, or void a claim, the payer needs its own control number for the original claim. This remark says that number was missing, incomplete or did not match anything on file.

It is usually paired with reason code 16 and the claim is returned without a decision on the services.

Common causes

• A corrected claim was sent with a frequency code for replacement or void but no original claim number.
• Your own account number was entered instead of the payer's claim control number.
• The number came from a different payer or a claim that was itself already replaced.

What to do next

1. Find the payer's claim control number on the original remittance.
2. Resubmit the corrected claim with that number and the right claim frequency code.
3. If the original claim never finished processing, check its status before sending a replacement.

Related codes

• 16 (reason code) Missing information or billing error
• MA67 (remark code) Alert: corrects an earlier claim
• MA130 (remark code) Unprocessable claim: correct and resubmit