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194
CO - Contractual ObligationPayment Adjustment
Denial Code CO-194: Anesthesia Adjustment
What Does Code 194 Mean?
Anesthesia services are adjusted based on the payer's anesthesia payment methodology (base units + time units).
Group Code CO (Contractual Obligation): The provider has agreed to accept the payer's determination. The patient is generally not responsible for this amount.
Why Does This Happen?
Standard anesthesia payment calculation based on base units, time, and conversion factor.
How to Resolve It
- 1Verify the base units, time units, and conversion factor
- 2Ensure accurate anesthesia start and stop times
- 3Appeal if the time or base units are incorrect
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