Introducing claim attachments

You can now include claim attachments in API-based 837P professional and 837D dental claim submissions.

When you need a claim attachment

Some payers require attachments to approve claims for specific services. Claim attachments show a service occurred or was needed. They can include X-rays, treatment plans, or itemized bills.

The type of attachment needed depends on the payer and the service. Without these attachments, the payer may delay (pend) or deny the claim.

How to submit a claim attachment

Follow these steps:

1. Check payer support.
   While uncommon, some payers may not accept claim attachments or may require transaction enrollment first. Check the Payers API or Stedi Payer Network for support.
   
   

2. Create an upload URL.
   Use the Create Claim Attachment JSON API to generate a pre-signed uploadUrl and an attachmentId. Specify the contentType in the request. Supported file types include application/pdf, image/tiff, image/jpeg, image/jpg, and image/png.
   
   Example request:

   curl --request POST \
     --url https://claims.us.stedi.com/2025-03-07/claim-attachments/file \
     --header 'Authorization: <api-key>' \
     --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
     --data '{
     "contentType": "application/pdf"
   }'

   curl --request POST \
     --url https://claims.us.stedi.com/2025-03-07/claim-attachments/file \
     --header 'Authorization: <api-key>' \
     --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
     --data '{
     "contentType": "application/pdf"
   }'

   curl --request POST \
     --url https://claims.us.stedi.com/2025-03-07/claim-attachments/file \
     --header 'Authorization: <api-key>' \
     --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
     --data '{
     "contentType": "application/pdf"
   }'

   curl --request POST \
     --url https://claims.us.stedi.com/2025-03-07/claim-attachments/file \
     --header 'Authorization: <api-key>' \
     --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
     --data '{
     "contentType": "application/pdf"
   }'

   curl --request POST \
     --url https://claims.us.stedi.com/2025-03-07/claim-attachments/file \
     --header 'Authorization: <api-key>' \
     --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
     --data '{
     "contentType": "application/pdf"
   }'

   
   Example response:

   {
     "attachmentId": "d3b3e3e3-3e3e-3e3e-3e3e-3e3e3e3e3e3e",
     "uploadUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/bucket/key"
   }

   {
     "attachmentId": "d3b3e3e3-3e3e-3e3e-3e3e-3e3e3e3e3e3e",
     "uploadUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/bucket/key"
   }

   {
     "attachmentId": "d3b3e3e3-3e3e-3e3e-3e3e-3e3e3e3e3e3e",
     "uploadUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/bucket/key"
   }

   {
     "attachmentId": "d3b3e3e3-3e3e-3e3e-3e3e-3e3e3e3e3e3e",
     "uploadUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/bucket/key"
   }

   {
     "attachmentId": "d3b3e3e3-3e3e-3e3e-3e3e-3e3e3e3e3e3e",
     "uploadUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/bucket/key"
   }

   
   

3. Upload your attachment.
   Upload your file to the uploadUrl.
   
   Example:

   curl --request PUT \
     --url "<your-uploadUrl>" \
     --header "Content-Type: application/pdf" \
     --upload-file /path/to/file.pdf

   curl --request PUT \
     --url "<your-uploadUrl>" \
     --header "Content-Type: application/pdf" \
     --upload-file /path/to/file.pdf

   curl --request PUT \
     --url "<your-uploadUrl>" \
     --header "Content-Type: application/pdf" \
     --upload-file /path/to/file.pdf

   curl --request PUT \
     --url "<your-uploadUrl>" \
     --header "Content-Type: application/pdf" \
     --upload-file /path/to/file.pdf

   curl --request PUT \
     --url "<your-uploadUrl>" \
     --header "Content-Type: application/pdf" \
     --upload-file /path/to/file.pdf

   
   

4. Submit the claim.
   Submit the claim using the Professional Claims (837P) JSON API or Dental Claims (837D) JSON API. Include the attachmentId in the payload’s claimInformation.claimSupplementalInformation.reportInformations[].attachmentId. In the same reportInformations object, include:
   
   

   • An attachmentReportTypeCode. This code identifies the type of report or document you plan to submit as an attachment. See Attachment Report Type Codes for a full list of codes.
     
     

   • An attachmentTransmissionCode of EL (Electronically Only). This property indicates the attachment will be sent in a separate, electronic 275 transaction.
     
     Example:

     curl --request POST \
       --url https://healthcare.us.stedi.com/2024-04-01/dental-claims/submission \
       --header 'Authorization: <api-key>' \
       --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
       --data '{
        ...
        "claimInformation": {
           "claimSupplementalInformation": {
             "reportInformations": [
               {
                 "attachmentReportTypeCode": "RB",
                 "attachmentTransmissionCode": "EL",
                 "attachmentId": "<your-attachment-id>"
               }
             ]
           }
         },
         ...
       }'

     curl --request POST \
       --url https://healthcare.us.stedi.com/2024-04-01/dental-claims/submission \
       --header 'Authorization: <api-key>' \
       --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
       --data '{
        ...
        "claimInformation": {
           "claimSupplementalInformation": {
             "reportInformations": [
               {
                 "attachmentReportTypeCode": "RB",
                 "attachmentTransmissionCode": "EL",
                 "attachmentId": "<your-attachment-id>"
               }
             ]
           }
         },
         ...
       }'

     curl --request POST \
       --url https://healthcare.us.stedi.com/2024-04-01/dental-claims/submission \
       --header 'Authorization: <api-key>' \
       --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
       --data '{
        ...
        "claimInformation": {
           "claimSupplementalInformation": {
             "reportInformations": [
               {
                 "attachmentReportTypeCode": "RB",
                 "attachmentTransmissionCode": "EL",
                 "attachmentId": "<your-attachment-id>"
               }
             ]
           }
         },
         ...
       }'

     curl --request POST \
       --url https://healthcare.us.stedi.com/2024-04-01/dental-claims/submission \
       --header 'Authorization: <api-key>' \
       --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
       --data '{
        ...
        "claimInformation": {
           "claimSupplementalInformation": {
             "reportInformations": [
               {
                 "attachmentReportTypeCode": "RB",
                 "attachmentTransmissionCode": "EL",
                 "attachmentId": "<your-attachment-id>"
               }
             ]
           }
         },
         ...
       }'

     curl --request POST \
       --url https://healthcare.us.stedi.com/2024-04-01/dental-claims/submission \
       --header 'Authorization: <api-key>' \
       --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
       --data '{
        ...
        "claimInformation": {
           "claimSupplementalInformation": {
             "reportInformations": [
               {
                 "attachmentReportTypeCode": "RB",
                 "attachmentTransmissionCode": "EL",
                 "attachmentId": "<your-attachment-id>"
               }
             ]
           }
         },
         ...
       }'

Get started

Claim attachments are available for all paid Stedi accounts.

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