Tricare CO-97 Bundling Correction Letter
Service is bundled into another billed service. Copy-paste appeal letter with documented overturn rate and attachment checklist for Tricare.
Verify before filing
Filing deadlines, appeal addresses, and policy criteria in this template reflect typical payer behavior at publication. Tricare updates policies frequently and plan-level rules vary by employer group, state, and line of business. Always cross-check the specific deadline and filing address on your EOB, and confirm current Tricaremedical-policy language through the payer’s provider portal before submitting an appeal. Overturn-rate language below reflects AAPC-reviewer consensus, not payer-published statistics.
When to use this template
Tricare follows CMS NCCI edits for bundling determinations. CO-97 fixes use modifier 59 or X{EPSU} with operative-note support for distinct procedural service.
Attachment checklist
- Operative note
- NCCI edit lookup
Missing any one of these is the single largest cause of appeal denials. Build a pre-filing checklist before you submit.
Copy-paste letter template
Swap in your patient details at every [bracketed field]. Attach the documentation listed above. Submit within 180 days of the original adjudication.
[Corrected Claim Cover Letter] [Practice Letterhead] [Date] Tricare Claims Department - Corrected Claim [Address from EOB] Re: Corrected Claim - CO-97 Correction Member: [Patient Name] Member ID: [Member ID] Date of Service: [DOS] Original Claim Number: [Claim #] CPT: [CPT code] Corrections applied: [List the RARC code reported on the original EOB and the specific element corrected. Examples:] - RARC N4 (missing NPI): Rendering provider NPI corrected to [correct NPI] - RARC N290 (missing modifier): Modifier 59 added to line 2 to indicate distinct procedural service - RARC N362 (PTAN mismatch): PTAN updated to [correct PTAN] for the service location - RARC M25 (missing invoice): Device invoice for [item] attached This is a corrected claim (frequency code 7 / resubmission code 7 on CMS-1500 box 22). The original claim information was clinically accurate; the corrections above address only the administrative deficiencies cited in the original denial. [Supporting documentation of the corrected element] Please reprocess and issue payment at the contracted rate. Sincerely, [Billing Manager Name] [Practice Name] [NPI, TIN]
Check the NCCI Modifier Indicator before appealing. Indicator 0 = absolute bundling (no appeal possible, change your coding). Indicator 1 = modifier bypass available with clinical support.
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Related templates
Same code, different payer. Or same payer, different problem
Common questions on this template
How long do I have to file a CO-97 appeal with Tricare?
180 days from the initial adjudication date for most Tricare plans. Corrected claims (for administrative fixes like missing modifiers or auth numbers) have a different and usually longer window. Always confirm the specific deadline on the EOB for your claim.
What is the typical overturn rate for this denial type?
High when the correct modifier is applied with documentation. Success depends heavily on documentation completeness and whether the clinical criteria in Tricare's medical policy are matched point-by-point in the appeal.
Should I file this as a corrected claim or a formal appeal?
CO-97 is typically a corrected-claim fix, not a formal appeal. Identify the specific RARC code on the EOB that pinpoints the element to fix, correct it, and resubmit with frequency code 7.
Can I reuse this template for other payers?
The structure works for any payer, but the filing address, deadline, and policy references are specific to Tricare. Check our other templates for payer-specific versions; we have 50+ payer/code combinations in the directory.
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