CARC 194: Anesthesia performed by the operating physician, the assistant surgeon, or the attending physician is not separately payable.
Anesthesia performed by the operating physician, the assistant surgeon, or the attending physician is not separately payable.
CARC 194 appears on the 835 ERA (Electronic Remittance Advice) that the payer returns after claim adjudication. It explains a reduction, denial, or payment adjustment to your billing team. For your practice, the question is workflow: identify the pattern, route the denial to the right resolution path (rebill, appeal, write-off), and recover what's recoverable without burning RVU time on dead-end fights.
What CARC 194 means
The official X12 description is: “Anesthesia performed by the operating physician, the assistant surgeon, or the attending physician is not separately payable.”
In plain language: Anesthesia performed by the operating physician, the assistant surgeon, or the attending physician is not separately payable.
Practice workflow for CARC X 194
Verify the EOB details. If you believe the code is misapplied, contact the carrier's member services or your provider's billing office.
CARC 194 group codes explained
On the 835 ERA, CARC 194 appears alongside a group code that signals who is financially responsible for the adjustment. CO (Contractual Obligation) — Contractual write-off. The provider agreed to the rate. Patient does NOT owe this amount.
Frequently asked questions
What does CARC 194 mean?
Anesthesia performed by the operating physician, the assistant surgeon, or the attending physician is not separately payable. In plain language: Anesthesia performed by the operating physician, the assistant surgeon, or the attending physician is not separately payable.
Is CARC 194 appealable?
CARC 194 is usually not appealable on its own — it's typically a contractual, informational, or routine adjustment. Verify the EOB details. If you believe the code is misapplied, contact the carrier's member services or your provider's billing office.
Which group code does CARC 194 appear under?
CARC 194 most often appears under: CO (Contractual Obligation) — Contractual write-off. The provider agreed to the rate. Patient does NOT owe this amount.
What should I do if I see CARC 194 on the 835?
Verify the EOB details. If you believe the code is misapplied, contact the carrier's member services or your provider's billing office.
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