CO-45Contractual ObligationContractual
CO-45 Denial Code: Charge exceeds fee schedule / contracted rate
The charge exceeds the fee schedule, maximum allowable, or contracted/legislated fee arrangement. This is a standard contractual write-off, not an error.
Why CO-45 happens
- ●Normal contractual adjustment between billed charges and allowed amount
- ●Chargemaster set above contracted rates (expected)
How to fix a CO-45 denial
- 1
Verify the allowed amount matches your contracted fee schedule
- 2
Post the adjustment; appeal only if the allowed amount is below contract
How to prevent it
Load payer fee schedules into your PM system and flag underpayments automatically.
Drowning in CO-45 denials?
OakClaim works every denial within 48 hours and builds prevention rules so they stop recurring.