CARC 288: Referral absent.
Referral absent.
CARC 288 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 288 means
The official X12 description is: “Referral absent.”
In plain language: Referral absent.
Practice workflow for CARC X 288
Appeal with documentation specific to this code. The provider's billing office can help clarify what the carrier wants.
ApprovalHelp auto-drafts the appeal letter against the right federal appeal-rights regulation (ACA §2719, ERISA §503, NSA §2799A, 42 CFR 422 Subpart M, or 42 CFR 438 Subpart F) for the patient's plan type, the payer's own coverage policy, and the relevant clinical guideline. Drafts route to the clinician for signature in under five minutes.
CARC 288 group codes explained
On the 835 ERA, CARC 288 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 288 mean?
Referral absent. In plain language: Referral absent.
Is CARC 288 appealable?
Yes — CARC 288 is one of the codes that commonly supports an appeal. Appeal with documentation specific to this code. The provider's billing office can help clarify what the carrier wants.
Which group code does CARC 288 appear under?
CARC 288 most often appears under: CO (Contractual Obligation) — Contractual write-off. The provider agreed to the rate. Patient does NOT owe this amount.
What's the practice workflow for a CARC 288 denial?
Appeal with documentation specific to this code. The provider's billing office can help clarify what the carrier wants.
Related resources
Sources
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