CO-140 / PR-140 Denial Code: Patient/Insured ID Number and Name Do Not Match
CARC 140 means the patient or insured health identification number and name do not match the payer's records — a data-validation mismatch between the submitted member ID and the name attached to it. It is an eligibility/identity error, correctable by fixing the ID or name and resubmitting, not a benefit denial you appeal on merits.
- Group
- CO or PR — depends on payer
- Category
- Patient identification / data mismatch
- Appealable?
- No — correct the ID or name and resubmit
- Typical fix
- Reconcile member ID and name to the payer record, resubmit
What does denial code CARC 140 mean?
CARC 140 is the payer flagging an identity mismatch. The official X12 description is "Patient/Insured health identification number and name do not match." A member ID was found, but the name submitted on the claim does not agree with the name the payer has attached to that ID. It is a front-end data-validation failure, so the claim never reached benefit adjudication.
Treat it like the identity-error family alongside CO-31 and CO-16 — a correctable keying or enrollment discrepancy, not a coverage decision.
Why does CARC 140 happen?
- Name format differences — maiden versus married name, nickname instead of legal first name, or a dropped suffix.
- Wrong member on the ID — a dependent billed under the subscriber\'s ID but with the dependent\'s name.
- Transposed or partial ID — a member ID that resolves to a different enrollee than the name intends.
Mini-example: 99214 ($131) submitted for "Beth Johnson" under member ID X5567. The payer\'s record for X5567 reads "Elizabeth Johnson-Reyes," so the line returns with CARC 140 and no payment. Correcting the name to match the enrollment record clears the $131.
How do you fix a CARC 140?
- Run a real-time eligibility check and capture the exact name and ID the payer has on file.
- Confirm whether the patient is the subscriber or a dependent, and use the correct name-plus-ID pairing.
- Correct the name or member ID on the claim to match the enrollment record exactly.
- Resubmit as a corrected claim; keep the timely filing clock in view since correction cycles consume the window.
How do you prevent CARC 140?
Capture the patient\'s legal name exactly as enrolled at registration, and record subscriber-versus-dependent relationships correctly so dependent claims carry the right name-and-ID pairing. Re-verify eligibility after any life event that changes a name. Route unfamiliar remittance codes through the denial code lookup so identity mismatches are not confused with a coordination of benefits problem.
Frequently asked questions
CARC 31 means the payer could not identify the patient as insured at all — no matching enrollee. CARC 140 is narrower: a member ID exists, but the name attached to the claim does not match the name on that ID. Both are identity errors, but 140 points you specifically at a name-versus-ID mismatch to reconcile.
No. There is no benefit decision to appeal — the claim failed identity validation before adjudication. The fix is a corrected claim with the member ID and name reconciled to the payer's enrollment record. Refiling with the same mismatched data will simply deny again.
Usually the name on the claim differs from the enrollment record: a maiden versus married name, a nickname instead of a legal first name, a missing suffix, or the wrong family member's ID entered. Dependents billed under the subscriber's ID with the dependent's name are a frequent trigger.
Sources & further reading
Reviewed by the ImmediCare Solutions RCM team
Certified billers and coders handling claims across 50+ specialties nationwide. This entry is reviewed against current payer policy and CMS rules. Last review: Jul 5, 2026.
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