835 Denial Combination
CO-202
Contractual Obligation · Claim-Level Adjustment
Contractual ObligationWhat This Combination Means
The payer has denied this charge because the service provided is classified as a personal comfort or convenience item that is not covered under the patient's benefit plan. Under the provider's contractual agreement with the payer, this amount must be written off and cannot be billed to the patient.
Financial Responsibility
provider writeoff
The provider must absorb the full amount as a contractual write-off. The patient has no financial responsibility for this non-covered convenience service.
N/A
Appeal Success
Immediate (write-off)
Avg. Resolution
Easy
Difficulty
No
Appealable
Step-by-Step Resolution
Steps tailored specifically to this CO-202 combination — not generic advice.
- 1
Verify the service billed qualifies as a personal comfort or convenience item
Confirm the CPT/HCPCS code and service description match items typically classified as convenience services such as comfort items, amenities, or non-medical supplies
- 2
Apply contractual adjustment to patient account
Post the CO-202 adjustment as a provider write-off without transferring any balance to patient responsibility
- 3
Update charge entry protocols to prevent future billing
Flag this service code as non-covered for this payer to avoid submitting claims for personal comfort items in the future
Specialty Context
How CO-202 typically presents across different practice types.
Dental
May apply to cosmetic comfort items such as premium toothbrushes, upgraded oral care kits, or amenity items provided during treatment that are not clinically necessary.
Medical
Common for items like television rental, guest meals, phone charges, upgraded room amenities, comfort supplies, or personal hygiene items beyond medical necessity provided during inpatient or facility stays.
Behavioral Health
May apply to non-therapeutic comfort items such as personal entertainment devices, upgraded accommodation features, or amenity supplies during residential or inpatient behavioral health treatment.
Individual Code References
View the standalone definition for each code in this combination.
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