CO 148 denial code

Claim adjustment reason code 148. Often reported as CO 148.

Other provider's information missing

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 148 means

The payer needs information from another provider that was not sent or was not complete enough to process this claim.

Your claim depends on information from a different provider, such as a referring, ordering or supplying provider, and the payer did not get it or found it lacking. This code always comes with at least one remark code that tells you what is missing.

Read the remark code first. It points to the specific item, and that tells you which provider to contact.

Group codes seen with 148

On a remittance, 148 comes after a group code. These are the ones it is most often reported with:

• CO 148 (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 ordering or referring provider's details or records were not sent.
• Documentation needed from another provider was incomplete.
• The payer requested records from another provider and did not receive them.

What to do next

1. Read the remark code on the line to find out what information is missing.
2. Contact the other provider and get the record, order or detail the payer needs.
3. Send the information to the payer or resubmit the claim with it attached.

Related codes

• 16 (reason code) Missing information or billing error
• 163 (reason code) Referenced attachment not received
• 226 (reason code) Provider did not send requested info