Claim adjustment reason code
Denial code OA-23 meaning
CARC 23, usually seen as OA-23: This adjustment reflects what an earlier payer already paid or allowed.
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- Reason code
- CARC 23
- Short name
- Adjusted for the prior payer's payment
- Plain meaning
- This adjustment reflects what an earlier payer already paid or allowed.
- Group codes
- OA-23: Other adjustment. An adjustment that is neither the provider's nor the patient's, often from coordination of benefits.
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
- This payer is secondary and is accounting for the primary payer's adjudication.
What to check before resubmitting
- Check that the primary payer's amounts were sent correctly on the secondary claim.
Remark codes that often come with it
Related reason codes
Related pages
Questions
What does denial code OA-23 mean?
This adjustment reflects what an earlier payer already paid or allowed. This is Rivvi's plain-English summary of CARC 23. X12's exact wording is on x12.org.
How do I fix OA-23?
Check that the primary payer's amounts were sent correctly on the secondary claim.
Can I bill the patient for OA-23?
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 23?
Most often OA (other adjustment). 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.