Claim adjustment reason code
Denial code CO-233 meaning
CARC 233, usually seen as CO-233: The charges relate to a hospital-acquired condition or a preventable medical error.
Run it in Rivvi
Check the codes behind a denial
Upload a claims export. Rivvi flags ICD-10 and HCPCS codes that are not billable, replaced, or unspecified when a specific code exists.
Check my exportFree to start. Opens Rivvi, the AI workspace for healthcare teams.
- Reason code
- CARC 233
- Short name
- Hospital-acquired condition
- Plain meaning
- The charges relate to a hospital-acquired condition or a preventable medical error.
- Group codes
- CO-233: 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 diagnosis was not present on admission and is on the payer's list.
What to check before resubmitting
- Check the present-on-admission indicators.
Related pages
Questions
What does denial code CO-233 mean?
The charges relate to a hospital-acquired condition or a preventable medical error. This is Rivvi's plain-English summary of CARC 233. X12's exact wording is on x12.org.
How do I fix CO-233?
Check the present-on-admission indicators.
Can I bill the patient for CO-233?
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 233?
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.