What should be checked on an EOB/RA for rejected claims?

• A. The reason code and legend provided for the rejection.
• B. The patient’s favorite color.
• C. The physician's signature.
• D. The claim's original submission date.

Answer: (A)

When a claim is rejected, the most important item to review on the EOB/RA is the reason code and the legend that explains that code. The reason code identifies the payer’s specific denial or missing-item issue, and the legend translates that code into a clear description of what is wrong and what needs to be corrected. This pairing guides you to the exact corrective action, such as resubmitting with corrected information, supplying missing documentation, or addressing eligibility issues. Other items don’t explain why the claim was rejected—details like a patient’s favorite color are irrelevant, a physician’s signature isn’t required on an EOB/RA, and the original submission date may appear for tracking but doesn’t describe the denial.