PR 187 denial code

Claim adjustment reason code 187. Often reported as PR 187.

Consumer spending account payment

Unofficial reference. This is our own plain-English explanation, not the official code text. Payer rules differ. Verify with the payer and the official X12 code list. AlphaPrefix is not affiliated with X12, CMS or any payer. Data last updated Nov 11, 2026.

What 187 means

The amount was paid from or applied to the patient's consumer spending account, such as an FSA, HSA or HRA.

This code reports money handled through the patient's spending account rather than by the health plan itself. It explains where part of the payment came from.

It does not mean the service was denied. Track the amount so the patient's balance is correct and the account payment is not posted twice.

Group codes seen with 187

On a remittance, 187 comes after a group code. These are the ones it is most often reported with:

• PR 187 (Patient Responsibility): The amount is assigned to the patient. Deductibles, coinsurance and copays are the everyday examples. Whether you can collect it still depends on your contract and the patient's plan.

The payer chooses the group code for each adjustment, so the same reason code can appear with another group code on your remittance. Read the two together. More about group codes.

Common causes

• The patient's spending account paid part of the cost sharing.
• The plan applied funds from a health reimbursement or savings account.
• The account and the plan were set up to coordinate on the claim.

What to do next

1. Post the account payment as a payment toward the patient's share.
2. Check that the patient's remaining balance reflects the account payment.
3. Contact the payer if the account payment amount is not clear from the remittance.

Related codes

• 1 (reason code) Amount applied to the deductible
• 2 (reason code) Patient's coinsurance share
• 3 (reason code) Copayment amount