246Denial Code (CARC)Active
CARC 246 Denial Code - Reporting Only: No Action Needed
Code 246 indicates that the payer has reported a non-payable code solely for reporting purposes. This code does not affect the payment or balance, as it is informational only.
Who Pays: Group Code Liability
Code 246 does not impact patient billing or provider write-offs. It is not associated with any group code liability, as it is purely for reporting.
Why Claims Get Code 246
- The claim included a service that requires reporting for data collection but is not payable.
- The payer uses code 246 to track specific service usage without affecting reimbursement.
- Reporting requirements mandated by regulations or contracts triggered code 246.
- The service was submitted correctly but is part of a non-payable reporting category.
How to Fix & Resubmit
- Verify that the service tied to code 246 is non-payable and correctly reported.
- Check if the payer's reporting requirements align with the use of code 246.
- Ensure no additional actions are needed, as this code is informational only.
- Confirm with the payer if uncertain about the reporting requirement.
Corrected Claim or Appeal?
For code 246, neither a corrected claim nor an appeal is necessary, as it is informational and does not affect payment.
Preventing Future 246 Denials
- Familiarize billing staff with services that trigger reporting-only codes like 246.
- Review payer contracts for non-payable reporting requirements.
- Ensure accurate coding to prevent unnecessary confusion with non-payable codes.
- Maintain clear communication with payers about their reporting needs.