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Denial Code Reference for Medical Billers

Denial Code Hub

Search CO, PR, OA, PI, RARC, and MA code entries with plain-English definitions, root causes, step-by-step resolution guidance, appeal resources, and practical examples.

2422
Searchable Code Entries
7
Code Types Covered
Current
X12 CARC + RARC Coverage
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Code Types:
CO
PR
OA
PI
CARC
RARC
MA

Showing 2422 of 2422 codes

Blue border = full deep-dive page available

CO — Contractual Obligation

252 codes

CARC — Reason Code Reference

297 codes
P13CARCReference

Payment reduced or denied based on workers' compensation jurisdictional regulations or payment policies, use only if no other code is applicable. Usage: If adjustment is at the Claim Level, the payer must send and the provider should refer to the 835 Insurance Policy Number Segment (Loop 2100 Other Claim Related Information REF qualifier 'IG') if the jurisdictional regulation applies. If adjustment is at the Line Level, the payer must send and the provider should refer to the 835 Healthcare Policy Identification Segment (loop 2110 Service Payment information REF) if the regulations apply. To be used for Workers' Compensation only.

Provider

Current X12 Claim Adjustment Reason Code. Read the full ERA/EOB, group code, and accompanying RARCs before deciding whether to correct, appeal, rebill, move patient responsibility, or adjust.

P21CARCReference

Payment denied based on the Medical Payments Coverage (MPC) and/or Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Benefits jurisdictional regulations, or payment policies. Usage: If adjustment is at the Claim Level, the payer must send and the provider should refer to the 835 Insurance Policy Number Segment (Loop 2100 Other Claim Related Information REF qualifier 'IG') if the jurisdictional regulation applies. If adjustment is at the Line Level, the payer must send and the provider should refer to the 835 Healthcare Policy Identification Segment (loop 2110 Service Payment information REF) if the regulations apply. To be used for Property and Casualty Auto only.

Provider

Current X12 Claim Adjustment Reason Code. Read the full ERA/EOB, group code, and accompanying RARCs before deciding whether to correct, appeal, rebill, move patient responsibility, or adjust.

P22CARCReference

Payment adjusted based on the Medical Payments Coverage (MPC) and/or Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Benefits jurisdictional regulations, or payment policies. Usage: If adjustment is at the Claim Level, the payer must send and the provider should refer to the 835 Insurance Policy Number Segment (Loop 2100 Other Claim Related Information REF qualifier 'IG') if the jurisdictional regulation applies. If adjustment is at the Line Level, the payer must send and the provider should refer to the 835 Healthcare Policy Identification Segment (loop 2110 Service Payment information REF) if the regulations apply. To be used for Property and Casualty Auto only.

Provider

Current X12 Claim Adjustment Reason Code. Read the full ERA/EOB, group code, and accompanying RARCs before deciding whether to correct, appeal, rebill, move patient responsibility, or adjust.

P27CARCReference

Payment denied based on the Liability Coverage Benefits jurisdictional regulations and/or payment policies. Usage: If adjustment is at the Claim Level, the payer must send and the provider should refer to the 835 Insurance Policy Number Segment (Loop 2100 Other Claim Related Information REF qualifier 'IG') if the jurisdictional regulation applies. If adjustment is at the Line Level, the payer must send and the provider should refer to the 835 Healthcare Policy Identification Segment (loop 2110 Service Payment information REF) if the regulations apply. To be used for Property and Casualty Auto only.

Provider

Current X12 Claim Adjustment Reason Code. Read the full ERA/EOB, group code, and accompanying RARCs before deciding whether to correct, appeal, rebill, move patient responsibility, or adjust.

P28CARCReference

Payment adjusted based on the Liability Coverage Benefits jurisdictional regulations and/or payment policies. Usage: If adjustment is at the Claim Level, the payer must send and the provider should refer to the 835 Insurance Policy Number Segment (Loop 2100 Other Claim Related Information REF qualifier 'IG') if the jurisdictional regulation applies. If adjustment is at the Line Level, the payer must send and the provider should refer to the 835 Healthcare Policy Identification Segment (loop 2110 Service Payment information REF) if the regulations apply. To be used for Property and Casualty Auto only.

Provider

Current X12 Claim Adjustment Reason Code. Read the full ERA/EOB, group code, and accompanying RARCs before deciding whether to correct, appeal, rebill, move patient responsibility, or adjust.

PR — Patient Responsibility

245 codes

OA — Other Adjustment

246 codes

PI — Payer Initiated

245 codes

RARC — Remark Codes

1027 codes
M25RARCReference

The information furnished does not substantiate the need for this level of service. If you believe the service should have been fully covered as billed, or if you did not know and could not reasonably have been expected to know that we would not pay for this level of service, or if you notified the patient in writing in advance that we would not pay for this level of service and he/she agreed in writing to pay, ask us to review your claim within 120 days of the date of this notice. If you do not request an appeal, we will, upon application from the patient, reimburse him/her for the amount you have collected from him/her in excess of any deductible and coinsurance amounts. We will recover the reimbursement from you as an overpayment.

Deductible

Current X12 Remittance Advice Remark Code. Read this remark with the accompanying CARC, group code, line detail, payer portal, and prior claim history before choosing an action.

M26RARCReference

The information furnished does not substantiate the need for this level of service. If you have collected any amount from the patient for this level of service/any amount that exceeds the limiting charge for the less extensive service, the law requires you to refund that amount to the patient within 30 days of receiving this notice. The requirements for refund are in 1824(I) of the Social Security Act and 42CFR411.408. The section specifies that physicians who knowingly and willfully fail to make appropriate refunds may be subject to civil monetary penalties and/or exclusion from the program. If you have any questions about this notice, please contact this office.

X12 RARC

Current X12 Remittance Advice Remark Code. Read this remark with the accompanying CARC, group code, line detail, payer portal, and prior claim history before choosing an action.

M27RARCReference

Alert: The patient has been relieved of liability of payment of these items and services under the limitation of liability provision of the law. The provider is ultimately liable for the patient's waived charges, including any charges for coinsurance, since the items or services were not reasonable and necessary or constituted custodial care, and you knew or could reasonably have been expected to know, that they were not covered. You may appeal this determination. You may ask for an appeal regarding both the coverage determination and the issue of whether you exercised due care. The appeal request must be filed within 120 days of the date you receive this notice. You must make the request through this office.

Informational

Current X12 Remittance Advice Remark Code. Read this remark with the accompanying CARC, group code, line detail, payer portal, and prior claim history before choosing an action.

N67RARCReference

Professional provider services not paid separately. Included in facility payment under a demonstration project. Apply to that facility for payment, or resubmit your claim if: the facility notifies you the patient was excluded from this demonstration; or if you furnished these services in another location on the date of the patient's admission or discharge from a demonstration hospital. If services were furnished in a facility not involved in the demonstration on the same date the patient was discharged from or admitted to a demonstration facility, you must report the provider ID number for the non-demonstration facility on the new claim.

Provider

Current X12 Remittance Advice Remark Code. Read this remark with the accompanying CARC, group code, line detail, payer portal, and prior claim history before choosing an action.

N103RARCReference

Records indicate this patient was a prisoner or in custody of a Federal, State, or local authority when the service was rendered. This payer does not cover items and services furnished to an individual while he or she is in custody under a penal statute or rule, unless under State or local law, the individual is personally liable for the cost of his or her health care while in custody and the State or local government pursues the collection of such debt in the same way and with the same vigor as the collection of its other debts. The provider can collect from the Federal/State/ Local Authority as appropriate.

Provider

Current X12 Remittance Advice Remark Code. Read this remark with the accompanying CARC, group code, line detail, payer portal, and prior claim history before choosing an action.

N125RARCReference

Payment has been (denied for the/made only for a less extensive) service/item because the information furnished does not substantiate the need for the (more extensive) service/item. If you have collected any amount from the patient, you must refund that amount to the patient within 30 days of receiving this notice. The requirements for a refund are in §1834(a)(18) of the Social Security Act (and in §§1834(j)(4) and 1879(h) by cross-reference to §1834(a)(18)). Section 1834(a)(18)(B) specifies that suppliers which knowingly and willfully fail to make appropriate refunds may be subject to civil money penalties and/or exclusion from the Medicare program. If you have any questions about this notice, please contact this office.

X12 RARC

Current X12 Remittance Advice Remark Code. Read this remark with the accompanying CARC, group code, line detail, payer portal, and prior claim history before choosing an action.

N355RARCReference

Alert: The law permits exceptions to the refund requirement in two cases: - If you did not know, and could not have reasonably been expected to know, that we would not pay for this service; or - If you notified the patient in writing before providing the service that you believed that we were likely to deny the service, and the patient signed a statement agreeing to pay for the service. If you come within either exception, or if you believe the carrier was wrong in its determination that we do not pay for this service, you should request appeal of this determination within 30 days of the date of this notice. Your request for review should include any additional information necessary to support your position. If you request an appeal within 30 days of receiving this notice, you may delay refunding the amount to the patient until you receive the results of the review. If the review decision is favorable to you, you do not need to make any refund. If, however, the review is unfavorable, the law specifies that you must make the refund within 15 days of receiving the unfavorable review decision. The law also permits you to request an appeal at any time within 120 days of the date you receive this notice. However, an appeal request that is received more than 30 days after the date of this notice, does not permit you to delay making the refund. Regardless of when a review is requested, the patient will be notified that you have requested one, and will receive a copy of the determination. The patient has received a separate notice of this denial decision. The notice advises that he/she may be entitled to a refund of any amounts paid, if you should have known that we would not pay and did not tell him/her. It also instructs the patient to contact our office if he/she does not hear anything about a refund within 30 days

Informational

Current X12 Remittance Advice Remark Code. Read this remark with the accompanying CARC, group code, line detail, payer portal, and prior claim history before choosing an action.

N599RARCReference

Our payment for this service is based upon a reasonable amount pursuant to both the terms and conditions of the policy of insurance under which the subject claim is being made as well as the Florida No-Fault Statute, which permits, when determining a reasonable charge for a service, an insurer to consider usual and customary charges and payments accepted by the provider, reimbursement levels in the community and various federal and state fee schedules applicable to automobile and other insurance coverages, and other information relevant to the reasonableness of the reimbursement for the service. The payment for this service is based upon 200% of the Participating Level of Medicare Part B fee schedule for the locale in which the services were rendered.

Provider

Current X12 Remittance Advice Remark Code. Read this remark with the accompanying CARC, group code, line detail, payer portal, and prior claim history before choosing an action.

N887RARCReference

Providers not participating in the Medicare Advantage Plan have the right to appeal if the plan has partially or fully denied payment or if the provider believes the plan has not paid the services at the expected Medicare reimbursable rate or type of level/service. Providers may file their appeal in writing within 60 calendar days after the date of the remittance advice. For the plan to review the appeal, the plan will need a completed signed Waiver of Liability Statement. To obtain a Waiver of Liability form, please contact your Medicare Advantage Plan. Once we receive the completed forms, we will give you a decision on your appeal within 60 calendar days.

Provider

Current X12 Remittance Advice Remark Code. Read this remark with the accompanying CARC, group code, line detail, payer portal, and prior claim history before choosing an action.

MA — Medicare Remark Codes

110 codes

Most Common Denial Codes — Full Deep Dives

CO-16

Claim/service lacks information or has submission/billing error(s). Usage: Do not use this code for claims attachment(s)/other documentation. At least one Remark Code must be provided (may be comprised of either the NCPDP Reject Reason Code, or Remittance Advice Remark Code that is not an ALERT.) Refer to the 835 Healthcare Policy Identification Segment (loop 2110 Service Payment Information REF), if present.

Full Guide
CO-45

Charge exceeds fee schedule/maximum allowable or contracted/legislated fee arrangement. Usage: This adjustment amount cannot equal the total service or claim charge amount; and must not duplicate provider adjustment amounts (payments and contractual reductions) that have resulted from prior payer(s) adjudication. (Use only with Group Codes PR or CO depending upon liability)

Full Guide
CO-50

These are non-covered services because this is not deemed a 'medical necessity' by the payer. Usage: Refer to the 835 Healthcare Policy Identification Segment (loop 2110 Service Payment Information REF), if present.

Full Guide
CO-97

The benefit for this service is included in the payment/allowance for another service/procedure that has already been adjudicated. Usage: Refer to the 835 Healthcare Policy Identification Segment (loop 2110 Service Payment Information REF), if present.

Full Guide
CO-197

Precertification/authorization/notification/pre-treatment absent.

Full Guide
CO-29

The time limit for filing has expired.

Full Guide
CO-151

Payment adjusted because the payer deems the information submitted does not support this many/frequency of services.

Full Guide
CO-18

Exact duplicate claim/service (Use only with Group Code OA except where state workers' compensation regulations requires CO)

Full Guide
CO-22

This care may be covered by another payer per coordination of benefits.

Full Guide
PR-1

Deductible Amount

Full Guide
PR-3

Co-payment Amount

Full Guide
OA-18

Exact duplicate claim/service (Use only with Group Code OA except where state workers' compensation regulations requires CO)

Full Guide
OA-23

The impact of prior payer(s) adjudication including payments and/or adjustments. (Use only with Group Code OA)

Full Guide
CO-4

The procedure code is inconsistent with the modifier used. Usage: Refer to the 835 Healthcare Policy Identification Segment (loop 2110 Service Payment Information REF), if present.

Full Guide
CO-11

The diagnosis is inconsistent with the procedure. Usage: Refer to the 835 Healthcare Policy Identification Segment (loop 2110 Service Payment Information REF), if present.

Full Guide
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