X12N refers to a set of standards developed by the Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) X12 for electronic data interchange (EDI) in the healthcare industry. These standards facilitate the electronic exchange of administrative and financial information between healthcare providers, insurers, and other entities, streamlining processes like claims submission, eligibility verification, and payment. X12N is part of the broader X12 standards, which cover various industries, but is specifically tailored to meet the needs of healthcare transactions.