Troubleshooting

This indicates that a valid API Key was not provided in your request.

Resolution

Refer to the Authentication section for details on how to include your API key correctly. Ensure your x-api-key header is present and valid in every request.

A required field is missing from your request. The reason field in the response provides exact details about the missing field name enclosed in single quotes.

Example: "Reason": "The 'PrincipalProviderNumber' field is not provided."

Resolution

Include the missing field in your request and try again.

Both referral details (such as referring provider number) and a referral override code (e.g. N – Not required) were included in the same request. Medicare only allows one.

Resolution

Include either referral details or a referral override code — not both.

The combination of ReferralTypeCode and ServiceTypeCode does not meet Medicare’s validation rules.

Resolution

Confirm both values exactly match one of the valid MBS combinations.

The Referral Issue Date is invalid — it may be in the future, after the service date, or before the patient’s date of birth.

Resolution

Ensure the referral issue date:

• Is not in the future
• Is on or before the service date
• Is after the patient’s date of birth

The provider number does not follow the required Medicare format.

Resolution

Provider numbers must be 8 characters in the format: 6-digit stem + 1 location character + 1 check digit

Example: 123456A7

The referring provider number matches the servicing provider number. Medicare requires different provider stems for each.

Resolution

Use a referring provider number with a different 6-digit stem from the servicing provider’s number.

A hospital-related referral override code (H) was provided, but required hospital fields were not included.

Resolution

If ReferralOverrideCode is H:

• Set HospitalIndicator to Y
• Provide a valid FacilityID

The Service Date is in the future or outside Medicare’s permitted timeframe.

Resolution

Ensure the service date:

• Is not in the future
• Is within 2 years of the transmission date

The Medicare card number or IRN (Individual Reference Number) is invalid.

Resolution

• Medicare card number must be 10 digits with a valid check digit
• The 10th digit must not be 0
• The IRN must be a single digit from 1 to 9 (not 0)

A Collection or Accession timestamp was provided without its corresponding value.

Resolution

If either CollectionDateTime or AccessionDateTime is provided, both must be included.

• Both must use valid Australian time zones
• Order must be: Collection ≤ Accession ≤ ServiceDate

Medicare rejected the transaction due to missing or invalid dependent fields, or incomplete data required for claim validation.

Resolution

Review the reason or errorDescription field in the response for specific details.

An interactive patient claim contains more than 16 Medical Events.

Resolution

• Limit each claim to 16 Medical Events
• Split additional events into separate claims

A Medical Event contains more than 14 services.

Resolution

• Limit each Medical Event to 14 services
• Split additional services into separate Medical Events

The claim contains more than 16 services overall.

Resolution

• Limit the claim to 16 services total
• Split additional services into separate claims

One or more Medical Event IDs are duplicated or not in the correct sequence (01–16).

Resolution

• Ensure Medical Event IDs are unique
• IDs must start at 01 and increment by one sequentially

A Service ID is repeated within the same claim.

Resolution

Ensure all Service IDs are unique within the claim.

The Account Paid Indicator is not Y or N, or is inconsistent with EFT details.

Resolution

• Must be Y (paid) or N (not paid)
• If EFT details are supplied, set AccountPaidIndicator = Y

The Account Reference ID contains invalid characters or is the wrong length.

Resolution

• Must be 1–9 characters
• Allowed characters: 0-9, A-Z, a-z, @ # $ % + = : ; , . -
• No leading or trailing spaces

Referral PeriodCode, Period, or TypeCode is missing or inconsistent.

Resolution

The claim cannot be submitted digitally because SubmissionAuthorityInd is missing or invalid.

Resolution

Set SubmissionAuthorityInd = Y to indicate the claimant authorised digital submission.