CO-140 denial code: patient name and ID number do not match

Claim adjustment reason code 140 says: patient or insured health identification number and name do not match. The payer found the ID on the claim, but the name with it isn't the one in its records.

With group code CO, the patient can't be billed. Correcting the name, or the ID, and resubmitting usually resolves it.

• A name change, after marriage or divorce, that the payer or the practice hasn't recorded.
• A nickname or shortened name in your system, such as "Bob" for Robert.
• A dependent billed under the subscriber's details, or the subscriber's name sent with the dependent's ID.
• Spelling, hyphens, suffixes and middle names that differ from the payer's record.
• The wrong ID, belonging to another member of the family.

1. Check the insurance card for the name exactly as printed.
2. Verify eligibility with the payer and copy the name as the payer returns it.
3. Check whether the patient is the subscriber or a dependent, and that the claim shows both correctly.
4. Correct the claim and resubmit. If the payer's record is wrong, the patient may need to update it with their plan.

• Register patients with their legal name, as on the card, and keep preferred names separate.
• Ask about name changes at every visit.
• Verify eligibility before the visit and use the payer's spelling.
• Record the subscriber and the patient separately when they are different people.

CO-140 is a patient-details problem, so it is prevented at booking.

Claira Health's AI agents confirm coverage and the right payer before the visit, so this denial is stopped at the front desk instead of coming back weeks later. Your team sees only what needs a decision, and approves every step. On a 20-minute call, we’ll walk through it using one of your own denials.

Related: CO-31, patient can't be identified. Book a 20-minute call.