CARC 115: Procedure Postponed, Canceled, or Delayed

What it means

The payer is indicating that the claim was denied or adjusted because the procedure billed was postponed, canceled, or delayed. This usually means the payer's records (or information submitted with the claim) show the service did not occur as originally scheduled, or occurred at a different time than billed, so the claim as submitted does not match the actual event.

Common causes

• The procedure was rescheduled but the claim was submitted with the original date of service
• A pre-operative or scheduled procedure was canceled after prior authorization was issued, but a claim was still submitted
• The claim was submitted prematurely before the rescheduled procedure actually took place
• Documentation submitted to the payer indicates the procedure was delayed, creating a mismatch with the billed date
• Duplicate or outdated scheduling information was used to generate the claim

How to fix it

1. Confirm with the scheduling and clinical teams whether the procedure was actually performed, postponed, canceled, or delayed
2. If the procedure was ultimately performed on a different date, correct the date of service and resubmit the claim with accurate documentation
3. If the procedure was canceled or not performed, do not resubmit a claim for that date of service; consider whether a different code (e.g., for a canceled procedure or reduced services) applies
4. Review the medical record and operative notes to verify the actual status and date of the procedure
5. Contact the payer to clarify what information triggered this code and confirm the correct resolution path
6. If a partial service was rendered before cancellation, review whether modifiers (such as those for discontinued procedures) are appropriate before resubmitting

Appeal / resubmit

Before appealing, verify internally whether the procedure was actually completed, and on what date. Gather the operative report, scheduling records, and any patient or facility notes documenting the postponement or cancellation. If the procedure was performed but on a different date than billed, submit a corrected claim rather than an appeal. If you believe the payer's information is inaccurate and the procedure was performed as billed, submit a written appeal with supporting clinical documentation clearly showing the date and details of the completed service.

Related codes

• 18
• 97
• N130

Frequently asked

More free billing tools: all denial codes · denial lookup · Medicare fee calculator

This content is informational only and does not constitute billing or legal advice. It does not guarantee any specific claim outcome or reimbursement.