MA04: Secondary payment cannot be considered without the identity of or payment information from the primary payer
Medicare (or the payer) needs to know who the primary payer is and what it paid before it can calculate a secondary payment on this claim.
Corrective actions
- 1
Attach primary payer information
Submit the primary payer's name, claim number, and remittance detail (paid amount, adjustment codes) with the secondary claim.
- 2
Update the MSP record if needed
If Medicare's system does not reflect the correct primary payer, contact the Benefits Coordination and Recovery Center to update the Medicare Secondary Payer record before resubmitting.
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Retrieved 2026-07-18.
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DenialPath 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.