Who this is for: All Barti users who manage denied claims.
What is a timely filing denial?
A timely filing denial occurs when a claim is submitted after the payer's filing deadline. The payer rejects the claim and the practice must write off the outstanding insurance balance. The patient is responsible only for their original copay or any amounts already collected — not the additional billed amount.
Steps
Confirm the denial reason on the EOB — look for language like "timely filing limit exceeded" or a CO-29 denial code.
In Barti, open the denied payment via Insurance → Payments.
Post $0 as the payment amount.
Add a write-off in the middle column for the outstanding insurance balance only. Do not write off any amount the patient already paid as a copay.
Remove any auto-populated contractual adjustment if it includes patient-paid amounts.
Click Apply Payment to Invoice.
Add an internal note: "Timely filing denial. Insurance balance written off [date]. Patient responsibility limited to original copay."
What you'll see when it works
The outstanding insurance balance is written off and the invoice reflects only the patient's original copay obligation. No balance should transfer to the patient beyond what they already owe.
How to prevent timely filing denials
File claims within 24–48 hours of invoice creation.
Check payer-specific filing deadlines — they vary by plan. Medicare is typically 12 months; commercial plans range from 90 days to 12 months.
If a claim was delayed due to a TriZetto SFTP password expiration, identify and resubmit all affected claims immediately after the password is reset. See How do I reset my TriZetto SFTP password?
Troubleshooting
The original denial was due to payer enrollment being pending. Can I appeal?
If the claim was later reprocessed but now falls outside the timely filing window because of the enrollment delay, write it off as timely filing. The patient owes only their original copay — not the full billed amount.
Can I appeal a timely filing denial?
Some payers accept appeals with documentation showing the claim was filed on time but rejected for another reason. If you have proof of timely submission, contact the payer directly to request a review. Otherwise, write off per the steps above.