GetMax

Claim adjustment reason code · Contractual obligation

CO-146
Diagnosis was invalid for the date of service

What CO-146 means

The ICD-10-CM code was not valid on the date of service.

The CO group code means this amount is a contractual obligation: under most contracts you cannot bill it to the patient.

Common causes

  • Outdated or deleted code
  • Code not specific enough (not billable)

How to fix it

  1. Use the code valid on the date of service (ICD-10 updates every October 1)
  2. Correct and resubmit

Check the remark code (RARC) that came with the denial and the payer's own policy, since rules vary by payer and plan. This is a plain-English summary written by GetMax; the official code text is published by X12 at x12.org/codes.

Prevent it next time

Most denials are caused before the claim is sent. See 12 ways to reduce claim denials, or let our denial management team work them for you.

Let us work your denials.

We triage every denial by code and payer, fix or appeal it, and stop it repeating.