What does CO-22 mean?
CARC code 22 is a coordination of benefits denial. The payer believes another insurance should be paying primary. This commonly occurs when the patient has multiple insurance plans and the payer order is incorrect in their system. Verify the correct primary and secondary payer with the patient, update the COB information with the payer, and resubmit. When billing the secondary payer, always include the primary payer's EOB showing what they paid. Success rate is approximately 65%.
How to appeal CO-22
Check the RARC code
The RARC (Remittance Advice Remark Code) on your ERA provides specific details about why the claim was denied. This tells you exactly what needs to be fixed.
Correct the identified issue
Fix the specific billing or coding error identified. Verify the correction against payer guidelines before resubmitting.
Resubmit the corrected claim
Resubmit with the appropriate frequency code (7 for replacement, 8 for void/resubmit) along with the corrected information.
Key notes for behavioral health
COB issue. Verify primary/secondary insurance order. Include EOB from primary when billing secondary.