CARC Code

159

🟡 Soft Denial

Terrorism-Related Service

The service or procedure was performed because of injuries or conditions resulting from an act of terrorism. This code is used when special claim handling or funding sources apply to terrorism-related incidents.

contractual
Resolution: 95%Easy difficulty3-7 days avg

How to resolve this denial

Verify prior adjudication; if not found, submit as void/resubmit with proof

  1. 1

    Pull the original claim and review the denial reason and any RARC codes

  2. 2

    Research the payer's policy for CARC 159 to understand the basis for denial

  3. 3

    Gather supporting documentation addressing the denial reason

  4. 4

    Submit a formal appeal with the documentation within the plan's appeal window

  5. 5

    Follow up on the appeal within 30 days and document all communication

Resolve this denial →
✓ Pre-action checklist — verify before contacting the payer
  1. Review the full remittance advice (ERA/EOB) for additional RARC codes that explain the denial.

  2. Verify the claim was submitted with correct patient eligibility and benefit information.

  3. Check if this denial applies to a specific line item or the entire claim.

More about CO-159 — stats, related codes, appeal template

95%

Recovery Rate

3-7 days

Avg. Resolution

Easy

Difficulty

Occasional

Frequency

Payer-Specific Notes

How major payers handle CARC 159 by specialty.

UnitedHealthcare

Review UHC's online claim status tool for additional detail on this adjustment.

Appeal Letter Template

Generic appeal template for CARC 159 denials.

We are submitting a formal appeal for claim [CLAIM_NUMBER] for patient [PATIENT_NAME], date of service [DOS]. This claim was denied/adjusted with CARC 159 indicating: "Service was previously adjudicated.." We have reviewed the claim and are providing the attached documentation to support reconsideration. [SUPPORTING_DOCUMENTATION]. Please reconsider payment per the terms of our contract.

Generate a personalized appeal letter →

Need to resolve this denial?

Get a step-by-step resolution plan with payer-specific guidance and appeal letter generation.

Resolve this denial →
Was this helpful?