Claim adjustment reason code
Denial code CO-194 meaning
CARC 194, usually seen as CO-194: Anesthesia was performed by the operating physician, the assistant surgeon or the attending physician.
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- Reason code
- CARC 194
- Short name
- Anesthesia by the surgeon
- Plain meaning
- Anesthesia was performed by the operating physician, the assistant surgeon or the attending physician.
- Group codes
- CO-194: 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
- Anesthesia was billed by the same physician who did the procedure.
What to check before resubmitting
- Check whether the anesthesia is included in the procedure for this payer.
Related reason codes
Related pages
Questions
What does denial code CO-194 mean?
Anesthesia was performed by the operating physician, the assistant surgeon or the attending physician. This is Rivvi's plain-English summary of CARC 194. X12's exact wording is on x12.org.
How do I fix CO-194?
Check whether the anesthesia is included in the procedure for this payer.
Can I bill the patient for CO-194?
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 194?
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.