CO-302 Denial: Precertification Expired

CO-302 fires when an authorization's validity period ended before the service occurred. The approval was real; the delay outlived it. Nothing about the clinical justification has changed, which is what makes reissue the natural route.

What CO-302 means

Authorization periods are commonly measured in weeks to a few months, and scheduling delays — theatre availability, patient illness, insurance changes — routinely outlast them. Because the reviewer already accepted the clinical case, a reissue request usually succeeds on the original record plus a note that the indication persists. What sinks these is silence: an expired authorization that nobody notices until the claim denies.

Why CO-302 fires

Scheduling pushed the service past the authorization's validity period.
The patient postponed and the authorization was not extended.
The authorization period was shorter than the practice assumed.
The service was rescheduled after a cancellation without a new authorization.

Is CO-302 worth appealing?

Sometimes worth appealing

Ask for reissue on the original clinical basis, noting that the indication persists. Where the payer refuses, the appeal is that the same reviewer already found the service necessary and only the calendar changed.

How to resolve or appeal CO-302

1
Request reissue with the original reference
Citing the prior authorization number and the unchanged indication.
2
Explain the delay
A scheduling or clinical reason for the gap is what distinguishes this from a lapsed request nobody pursued.
3
Check validity at scheduling
The recurrence is prevented by confirming the expiry date whenever a date moves.

CO-302 — frequently asked

Does the original approval help?

It is the strongest fact available. A reviewer has already accepted the clinical case, so the reissue request is asking for a date change rather than a fresh determination.

How long are authorizations valid?

It varies widely, from a few weeks to several months, and it is stated on the authorization itself — which is where to look before rescheduling.

Sources

Reason-code meanings are paraphrased from the X12 Claim Adjustment Reason Code list for plain-language reference; they are not reproduced verbatim. This is general information, not legal, coding, or medical advice — always confirm against the payer's remittance and policy.

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