# Claim edit: Duplicate payer responsibility level codes

> Stedi now rejects 837P professional, 837D dental, and 837I institutional claims that include duplicate payer responsibility level codes.

Published Dec 8, 2025

Product: Claim edits

Stedi now rejects [837P professional](https://www.stedi.com/docs/healthcare/submit-professional-claims), [837D dental](https://www.stedi.com/docs/healthcare/submit-dental-claims), and [837I institutional](https://www.stedi.com/docs/healthcare/submit-institutional-claims) claims that include duplicate payer responsibility level codes.

Payer responsibility level codes, also called [payment responsibility sequence number codes](https://www.stedi.com/docs/healthcare/claims-code-lists#payment-responsibility-sequence-number-codes), indicate which payer is supposed to pay first, second, and so on. For example, a code of `P` indicates the primary payer. A code of `S` indicates the secondary payer.

The process of determining this order is known as [coordination of benefits (COB)](https://www.stedi.com/docs/healthcare/receive-claim-responses#crossover-claims). Payers use this information to process secondary and tertiary claims correctly.

If a claim lists more than one payer at the same responsibility level – for example, two primary payers – the payer may reject the claim, which can cause payment delays.

This edit – the industry’s term for an automated validation rule – catches the issue before it reaches the payer.

**When this edit applies**  
A claim will fail this edit when:

- **JSON API**  
  If you’re using one of Stedi’s JSON [claim submission API endpoints](https://www.stedi.com/docs/healthcare/intro-to-claim-submission#api-claim-submission), the edit fails if the `subscriber.paymentResponsibilityLevelCode` field and/or any `claimInformation.otherSubscriberInformation.paymentResponsibilityLevelCode` fields contain a duplicate value.

- **Raw X12**  
  If you’re using raw X12, the edit fails if `Loop 2000B` (Subscriber Hierarchical Level) and/or `Loop 2320` (Other Subscriber Information) contain a duplicate `SBR-01` (Payer Responsibility Sequence Number Code) value.

- **Stedi portal**  
  You can’t fail this edit using the Stedi portal’s professional claim submission form. Currently, the form only supports claims to a single primary payer. Secondary and tertiary claims aren't supported.

This edit does not fail if a claim lists multiple payers with a responsibility level code of `U` (Unknown). A code of `U` doesn’t indicate a specific payment order, so duplicates are allowed.

**Rejection errors**  
If you submit a claim that fails the edit using Stedi’s [claim submission APIs](https://www.stedi.com/docs/healthcare/intro-to-claim-submission#api-claim-submission), you’ll get back an error message in real time. If you’re using a JSON API endpoint, the response includes error details in the `errors` array:

```jsonc
{
  "errors": [
    {
      "code": "33",
      "description": "Invalid payer responsibility submitted. Duplicate payer responsibility codes were detected: [P, S, S]. Payer responsibility values within a claim must be unique. Correct and resubmit.",
      "followupAction": "Please Correct and Resubmit"
    }
  ]
}
```

If you submit a claim that fails the edit using SFTP, Stedi will reject the claim with a [277CA claim acknowledgment](https://www.stedi.com/docs/healthcare/claim-responses-overview#277ca-claim-acknowledgment). The acknowledgment will contain a related claim status category code, claim status code, and error message. You can use the error message to correct and resubmit the claim.