Denial Code 223 (CO-223, PR-223) — Meaning & What to Do
Claim Adjustment Reason Code (CARC)
What denial code 223 means: A mandated federal/state adjustment was applied.
What to do about denial code 223: Ask the provider's billing office to explain or correct this, and resubmit if needed.
CO-223 vs PR-223 vs OA-223: what the prefix means
| Code on your EOB | What the prefix means | Who typically pays |
|---|---|---|
| CO-223 | Contractual obligation — the provider writes the amount off | Usually not the patient |
| PR-223 | Patient responsibility | The patient |
| OA-223 | Other adjustment | Often another payer or plan |
The prefix tells you who is expected to absorb the amount; the number (223) tells you why.
Related codes
CARC 222This exceeds the contracted maximum number of hours/days/units.
CARC 225A penalty was applied for not using electronic funds transfer.
CARC 201This amount is the patient's responsibility under a workers' comp rule.
CARC 226The information requested from the provider wasn't received or was incomplete.
Keep reviewing your bill
- Medical Bill vs EOB: What Is the Difference?
- How to Dispute a Medical Bill — Find Billing Errors Before You Pay
Frequently asked questions about Denial code 223
What does denial code 223 mean on my EOB?
A mandated federal/state adjustment was applied.
What should I do about denial code 223?
Ask the provider's billing office to explain or correct this, and resubmit if needed.
Found this code on your bill or EOB?
Upload the document — MD Bill Check decodes every code, checks the math line by line, and explains what's worth questioning.