Claim adjustment reason code
Denial code CO-190 meaning
CARC 190, usually seen as CO-190: The payment is included in the allowance for a qualified skilled nursing facility stay.
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- Reason code
- CARC 190
- Short name
- Included in a skilled nursing stay
- Plain meaning
- The payment is included in the allowance for a qualified skilled nursing facility stay.
- Group codes
- CO-190: 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 service is under SNF consolidated billing.
What to check before resubmitting
- Bill the skilled nursing facility, not Medicare, for services under consolidated billing.
Related reason codes
Related pages
Questions
What does denial code CO-190 mean?
The payment is included in the allowance for a qualified skilled nursing facility stay. This is Rivvi's plain-English summary of CARC 190. X12's exact wording is on x12.org.
How do I fix CO-190?
Bill the skilled nursing facility, not Medicare, for services under consolidated billing.
Can I bill the patient for CO-190?
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 190?
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.