N382 remark code

Remittance advice remark code N382. Remark codes add detail to the reason code on the same claim line.

Patient ID missing or invalid

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 N382 means

The patient's member ID on the claim is missing, incomplete or does not match anyone the payer has on file.

N382 means the payer could not identify the patient from the information you sent. Usually the member ID is wrong or incomplete, but a mismatch between the ID and the name or date of birth can also cause it.

Remark codes do not stand alone, and N382 is usually paired with reason code 16 (missing information or billing error) or 31 (payer cannot identify the patient). It is a front-end data problem, so the fix is almost always a corrected claim, not an appeal.

Common causes

• The member ID was mistyped, or a prefix or suffix was left off.
• An old ID was used after the patient's plan issued a new card.
• The subscriber's ID was used for a dependent on a plan that gives dependents their own number.
• The patient's name or date of birth on the claim does not match the payer's member record.
• The claim was sent to the wrong payer for the ID on file.

What to do next

1. Copy the member ID exactly from the current insurance card, including any prefix or suffix.
2. Run a real-time eligibility check with the ID, name and date of birth to confirm a match.
3. Correct the patient record and send a corrected claim, keeping an eye on the filing deadline.
4. Ask the patient for their newest card if the ID on file no longer returns a match.
5. Add an ID check to registration so the same error is caught before the claim goes out.

Related codes

• 16 (reason code) Missing information or billing error
• 31 (reason code) Payer cannot identify the patient
• N329 (remark code) Patient birth date problem
• MA36 (remark code) Missing or invalid patient name