14Denial Code (CARC)Active
CO 14 Denial Code - Date of Birth Error Fixes
CARC 14 signifies that the date of birth listed on the claim occurs after the date of service. This mismatch typically indicates an error in patient information or service date entry, causing the payer to reject the claim.
Who Pays: Group Code Liability
For CARC 14, the group code is usually CO, meaning the provider must correct the error and cannot bill the patient for this adjustment. However, if the error is due to incorrect information provided by the patient, it may potentially be PR, making it the patient's responsibility to provide accurate data.
Why Claims Get Code 14
- Incorrect patient date of birth entered during registration.
- Typographical error in the date of service on the claim.
- Patient information not updated in the billing system after a change.
- Data entry error when transcribing patient information from records.
- System error causing a mismatch between patient records and claim data.
How to Fix & Resubmit
- Verify the patient's date of birth in the medical records and update if necessary.
- Check the date of service entered on the claim for accuracy.
- Correct any errors found in the patient's information or service date.
- Resubmit the corrected claim to the payer for processing.
- Ensure all patient demographic information is consistently updated across systems.
Corrected Claim or Appeal?
For CARC 14, a corrected claim is the appropriate action once the date of birth or service date error is resolved. Appeals are unnecessary as this is a data entry issue, not a denial based on medical necessity or coverage.
Preventing Future 14 Denials
- Implement double-check procedures for patient registration data entry.
- Use software alerts for date mismatches during claim preparation.
- Regularly update patient demographic information in the billing system.
- Train staff on common data entry errors and verification techniques.