Claim adjustment reason code
Denial code CO-19 meaning
CARC 19, usually seen as CO-19: The payer sees this as a work injury that workers' compensation should pay.
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- Reason code
- CARC 19
- Short name
- Work-related injury
- Plain meaning
- The payer sees this as a work injury that workers' compensation should pay.
- Group codes
- CO-19: Contractual obligation. The provider absorbs the amount under its contract or the payer's rules. Do not bill the patient for it.
Plain-English summary written by Rivvi. X12 owns the CARC list and its exact wording, which is not reproduced here. Read it on the X12 CARC list (list dated November 1, 2025, checked October 23, 2026). This page does not decide how a claim is paid.
Common causes
- The claim or the accident indicator says the injury is work-related.
What to check before resubmitting
- Bill the workers' compensation carrier.
- If the injury is not work-related, correct the accident fields and resubmit.
Related reason codes
Related pages
Questions
What does denial code CO-19 mean?
The payer sees this as a work injury that workers' compensation should pay. This is Rivvi's plain-English summary of CARC 19. X12's exact wording is on x12.org.
How do I fix CO-19?
Bill the workers' compensation carrier. If the injury is not work-related, correct the accident fields and resubmit.
Can I bill the patient for CO-19?
With group code CO, no. CO means the provider absorbs the amount under its contract or the payer's rules.
Which group codes come with CARC 19?
Most often CO (contractual obligation). The group code, not the reason code, says who owes the amount.
What is the difference between a CARC and a RARC?
A claim adjustment reason code (CARC) says why a claim line was paid differently than billed. A remittance advice remark code (RARC) adds detail, such as which field is missing.