X12 278 PER01 (Contact Function Code): Format, Values, and Testing Notes
PER01 has a real code list behind it, but in practice a 278 transaction almost always sends the same value — which makes it easy to hardcode a parser against that one case and never notice until a trading partner sends something else.
PER01 is a code in the PER segment of an X12 278 that identifies what function the named contact serves — in prior authorization transactions this is overwhelmingly IC, meaning information contact, the person to reach with a general question about the request.
Valid code values
Example
PER01 is IC here, marking A Johnson as the general information contact for this request. Synthetic test data.
Where this trips people up
Because IC covers nearly every real-world case, some intake systems hardcode PER01 as a constant instead of reading it, and downstream logic never actually checks the value. That's fine until a trading partner sends BL for a billing-specific contact and the request gets routed to the wrong desk — a failure that only shows up once test data stops assuming IC is the only option.