CO 140 denial code

Claim adjustment reason code 140. Often reported as CO 140.

Patient ID number and name do not match

Unofficial reference. This is our own plain-English explanation, not the official code text. Payer rules differ. Verify with the payer and the official X12 code list. AlphaPrefix is not affiliated with X12, CMS or any payer. Data last updated Nov 11, 2026.

What 140 means

The member ID on the claim does not match the patient name the payer has on file for that ID.

The payer found the member ID, but the name on the claim does not line up with the person enrolled under it. This is a demographic mismatch, not a coverage decision, and it usually stops the claim before any medical review.

Common reasons are typos, a recent name change, or billing a dependent under the subscriber's details. Fixing the data and sending a corrected claim normally resolves it.

Group codes seen with 140

On a remittance, 140 comes after a group code. These are the ones it is most often reported with:

• CO 140 (Contractual Obligation): The provider's side of the ledger. The reduction comes from the payer contract or a rule the provider has to follow, and the patient normally cannot be billed for it.

The payer chooses the group code for each adjustment, so the same reason code can appear with another group code on your remittance. Read the two together. More about group codes.

Common causes

• The patient's name was misspelled or a nickname was used instead of the legal name.
• The patient changed their name and the payer or your system still has the old one.
• A dependent was billed with the subscriber's name or the wrong member suffix.

What to do next

1. Check the name exactly as it appears on the insurance card or in an eligibility response.
2. Correct the patient's name, member ID or suffix in your system and on the claim.
3. Resubmit a corrected claim once the data matches the payer's record.
4. Ask the patient to update their name with the plan if their legal name has changed.

Related codes

• 16 (reason code) Missing information or billing error
• MA130 (remark code) Unprocessable claim: correct and resubmit