CARCContractual Obligation
CARC 15: Payment adjusted because the submitted authorization number is missing, invalid, or does not apply
The prior authorization number on the claim is missing, wrong, or doesn't match what the insurer has on file.
What this means for your claim
Even when authorization was obtained, a typo or incorrect number on the claim form will trigger this code. The service may still be covered — the admin error just needs to be fixed.
What to do next
- 1
Ask your provider to confirm the authorization number they received and verify it matches what was submitted.
- 2
If the number was submitted incorrectly, ask the provider to resubmit with the correct authorization number.
- 3
If no authorization was ever obtained, see CARC 5 guidance for next steps.
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