AGAR Guide
CARC1ReferenceCurrentVerified Aug 15, 2026

CARC 1

AR Guide Workflow

Patient Responsibility

The amount is the patient's responsibility under the plan — deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or a non-covered amount the patient may be billed.

Open denial workflow

AR Guide explanation

What it means

The amount was applied toward the patient's deductible before the plan paid its share.

AR Guide knowledge

Common denial category

Patient Responsibility — The amount is the patient's responsibility under the plan — deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or a non-covered amount the patient may be billed.

AR Guide knowledge

Common causes

  • Patient's annual deductible not yet met at time of service
  • Deductible applied per the benefit plan design

AR Guide knowledge

What AR should verify

  1. Verify the patient's deductible status for the plan year
  2. Confirm the deductible is satisfied for the correct benefit period

AR Guide knowledge

Recommended action

  1. Bill the patient per the plan's patient-responsibility rules

AR Guide knowledge

QA checkpoint

  • Confirm deductible was verified at the time of service
  • Check for coordination-of-benefits impact on the deductible

About this guidance: Note

AR Guide knowledge is general reference content written by our team — it is not payer-specific policy and never replaces the payer’s documentation or your contract. Always confirm specifics with the payer.