# CO 45 denial code dental

Answer: On a dental remittance, code CO 45 means: The billed charge exceeds the fee schedule, maximum allowable, or contracted rate — the amount above the allowed rate is adjusted off. depends: check the facts first. The adjustment itself is contractual. What is contestable is the underlying fee schedule: if the allowed amount does not match your contracted schedule, request the fee schedule the claim was priced against and dispute the pricing — that is an underpayment dispute, not a benefits appeal.

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Answer intent ID: `dental-denial-code-co-45`
Cluster: Practice operations
Last verified: 2026-08-29
Reviewer: see source page

## Direct answer

On a dental remittance, code CO 45 means: The billed charge exceeds the fee schedule, maximum allowable, or contracted rate — the amount above the allowed rate is adjusted off. depends: check the facts first. The adjustment itself is contractual. What is contestable is the underlying fee schedule: if the allowed amount does not match your contracted schedule, request the fee schedule the claim was priced against and dispute the pricing — that is an underpayment dispute, not a benefits appeal.

## Query patterns

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Source citations:
- `X12-CARC` X12 Claim Adjustment Reason Codes (official list). <https://x12.org/codes/claim-adjustment-reason-codes>

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