13Denial Code (CARC)Active
CO 13 Denial Code - Fix Date of Death Errors
Code 13 means the payer has denied the claim because the date of service on the claim is after the patient's recorded date of death. This error suggests a mismatch between the service date and the patient's death date on file.
Who Pays: Group Code Liability
The denial under code 13 typically uses the CO group code, meaning the provider must write off the amount as a contractual obligation and cannot bill the patient.
Why Claims Get Code 13
- Incorrect patient information in the system, leading to a mismatch with payer records.
- Clerical error entering the service date or patient date of death.
- Outdated patient demographic data not reflecting recent changes.
- Payer's system has incorrect date of death for the patient.
How to Fix & Resubmit
- Verify the accuracy of the patient's date of death in both your records and the payer's system.
- Check the service date on the claim to ensure it's correct and that no typographical errors occurred.
- If payer data is incorrect, contact the payer to update the patient's date of death in their system.
- Submit a corrected claim if the service date was entered incorrectly.
- If the payer's records are incorrect and cannot be updated, appeal the denial with supporting documentation.
Corrected Claim or Appeal?
Submit a corrected claim if the service date was entered wrong. If the payer has the wrong date of death, appeal with evidence such as a death certificate.
Preventing Future 13 Denials
- Ensure patient demographic data is up-to-date before claim submission.
- Implement a double-check system for entering service dates.
- Regularly audit patient records against payer data for discrepancies.
- Train staff on the importance of verifying critical data such as dates of death.