CO-16 denial: Missing information
The claim is missing information or has a billing or submission error, so the payer could not process it.
Common causes
- A required field is blank or wrong, such as an ID, date or provider number
- Patient demographics do not match the payer's records
- A referring or rendering provider detail is missing
How to fix it
- Read the remark code (RARC) on the remittance; it names what is missing
- Correct the claim and resubmit it as a corrected or new claim, not as an appeal
- Confirm the fix with the payer if the remark code is unclear
How to prevent it
- Verify patient and insurance data at check-in
- Use a claim scrubber that blocks submissions with empty required fields
Zenith billers and AR specialists work denials like this inside your practice-management system, and your practice stays the billing provider. See AR follow-up and medical billing.
Educational summary, not billing or legal advice. Payer rules and deadlines vary; always check the payer’s own policy and the remark code on your remittance.