Place of Service Codes Lookup
Complete CMS Place of Service Code Reference for Medical Billing — Updated 2025
Quick Reference: Most Common POS Codes
Understanding Place of Service Codes
Place of Service (POS) codes are two-digit codes used on professional claims (CMS-1500 form, field 24B) to indicate the setting where a healthcare service was provided. These codes are maintained by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and are required on all professional claims submitted under HIPAA.
Each POS code represents a specific type of healthcare setting — from a physician's office (11) to a hospital emergency room (23) to telehealth (02/10). The code you select directly affects how your claim is processed and reimbursed.
There are currently 47 active POS codes (out of 99 possible), with the most recent additions being POS 27 (Outreach Site/Street) in October 2023 and POS 66 (PACE Center) in August 2024.
Where to enter the POS code: On the CMS-1500 claim form, the Place of Service code goes in Field 24B (Box 24B) for each line item of service.
Reimbursement impact: POS codes directly affect payment rates. Medicare uses two rate schedules:
- Facility rate (lower) — used for services in hospitals, ASCs, SNFs (POS 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 31, etc.)
- Non-facility rate (higher) — used for services in offices, clinics, patient homes (POS 11, 12, 49, etc.)
Using the wrong POS code can result in lower reimbursement, claim denials, or compliance issues. Always verify the correct code before submitting.
As of January 1, 2022, CMS split telehealth into two separate POS codes:
- POS 02 — Telehealth Provided Other Than in Patient's Home (paid at facility rate)
- POS 10 — Telehealth Provided in Patient's Home (paid at non-facility rate)
Why it matters: The non-facility rate (POS 10) is typically higher than the facility rate (POS 02). If your patient is receiving telehealth from their home, using POS 10 instead of POS 02 can result in higher reimbursement.
Modifier 95: In addition to the POS code, append modifier 95 to the CPT code to indicate the service was delivered via synchronous telehealth.
Common POS coding mistakes to avoid:
- Using POS 02 for all telehealth — If the patient is at home, use POS 10 for higher reimbursement.
- Confusing POS 19 and POS 22 — POS 19 is off-campus outpatient hospital; POS 22 is on-campus outpatient hospital. These have different payment implications.
- Using POS 11 for hospital-based clinics — If a physician office is located within a hospital, use the appropriate hospital POS code, not 11.
- Defaulting to POS 99 — Don't use "Other" as a catch-all. CMS may deny claims with POS 99 if a more specific code applies.
- Forgetting POS 27 for street medicine — New as of October 2023, use POS 27 (not 99) for healthcare provided to unhoused individuals in non-permanent settings.
- Not updating for POS 66 (PACE) — As of August 2024, PACE centers should use POS 66 instead of other facility codes.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Place of Service (POS) code is a two-digit code used on healthcare claims to indicate where a medical service was rendered. These codes are maintained by CMS and are required on all CMS-1500 professional claim forms. They are placed in Field 24B for each line item of service.
POS codes directly determine whether a service is paid at the facility rate or non-facility rate. Non-facility rates (used for offices, homes, clinics) are typically higher because the provider bears more overhead costs. Facility rates (used for hospitals, ASCs, SNFs) are lower because the facility separately bills for its costs. Selecting the wrong POS code can result in lower payment or claim denials.
Both are telehealth codes, but they differ based on where the patient is located. POS 02 (Telehealth Provided Other Than in Patient's Home) is used when the patient is at a clinic, hospital, or other facility during the telehealth visit, and pays at the facility rate. POS 10 (Telehealth Provided in Patient's Home) is used when the patient is at their private residence, and pays at the non-facility rate (typically higher). This distinction was introduced January 1, 2022.
POS 11 (Office) is by far the most commonly used Place of Service code. It applies to standard physician office visits where the health professional routinely provides examinations, diagnosis, and treatment on an ambulatory basis. Other frequently used codes include POS 21 (Inpatient Hospital), POS 22 (Outpatient Hospital), and POS 23 (Emergency Room).
The Place of Service code is entered in Field 24B (Box 24B) of the CMS-1500 claim form. Each line item of service requires its own POS code, as different services on the same claim may have been provided in different settings. Enter the two-digit code that corresponds to the location where the service was actually rendered.
POS 27 was introduced effective October 1, 2023 to support street medicine programs. It is used for non-permanent locations on the street or found environment where health professionals provide preventive, screening, diagnostic, and/or treatment services to unsheltered homeless (unhoused) individuals. Previously, providers had to use POS 99 (Other) for these encounters.
The most recent additions to the POS code set are: POS 10 (Telehealth Provided in Patient's Home) effective January 1, 2022; POS 27 (Outreach Site/Street) effective October 1, 2023; and POS 66 (PACE Center) effective August 1, 2024. Additionally, POS 02 was renamed from "Telehealth" to "Telehealth Provided Other Than in Patient's Home" when POS 10 was introduced.
Use POS 20 (Urgent Care Facility) for services provided at a dedicated urgent care center — a location distinct from a hospital emergency room, office, or clinic, whose purpose is to diagnose and treat illness or injury for unscheduled, ambulatory patients seeking immediate medical attention. Do not confuse this with POS 23 (Emergency Room) which is specifically for hospital emergency departments.
Data Source: Place of Service codes are maintained by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This reference is based on the official CMS POS Code Set database, last updated May 2024, with additional codes effective through 2025.
Disclaimer: This tool is provided for informational and educational purposes only. While we strive to maintain accurate and current data, always verify POS codes against the official CMS Place of Service Code Set before submitting claims. Coding requirements may vary by payer.