CARC 187 — This amount was or should be paid from the patient's consumer-directed spending

CARC 187PR · Patient Responsibility

This amount was or should be paid from the patient's consumer-directed spending account, such as an HSA or FSA, rather than by the payer.

Common causes: The plan is a consumer-directed health plan where certain costs are designated to draw from the patient's linked spending account.
Suggested fix: Direct the patient to use their HSA/FSA card or reimbursement process for this amount; no further payer action is needed.

Related Patient Responsibility codes

1The billed amount was applied to the patient's plan deductible instead of being paid by the payer.119The patient has used up the maximum benefit allowed for this service within the applicable time period, such as an annual visit limit.167The specific diagnosis code(s) on this claim aren't covered under the patient's plan.177The patient doesn't currently meet the plan's eligibility criteria for this benefit.2This portion of the claim represents the patient's coinsurance share, the percentage of the allowed amount they are responsible for under their plan.200The service date falls within a period when the patient's coverage had lapsed.201The patient is responsible for this amount under a legal set-aside arrangement, commonly seen in workers' compensation Medicare Set-Aside cases, rather than the payer.202This charge is for a personal comfort or convenience item or service that isn't covered by the plan.

Frequently asked questions

What does CARC 187 mean?

This amount was or should be paid from the patient's consumer-directed spending account, such as an HSA or FSA, rather than by the payer.

How do I resolve CARC 187?

Direct the patient to use their HSA/FSA card or reimbursement process for this amount; no further payer action is needed.

Why does CARC 187 happen?

The plan is a consumer-directed health plan where certain costs are designated to draw from the patient's linked spending account.

CARC codes maintained by X12 (x12.org). Descriptions on this site are original reference interpretations. Always verify codes with authoritative sources before making billing decisions.