Place of Service Codes (CMS1500 box 24b)
Place of Service Codes are two-digit codes placed on health care professional claims to indicate the setting in which a service was provided. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) maintain POS codes used throughout the health care industry.This code set is required for use in the implementation guide adopted as the national standard for electronic transmission of professional health care claims under the provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). HIPAA directed the Secretary of HHS to adopt national standards for electronic transactions. These standard transactions require all health plans and providers to use standard code sets to populate data elements in each transaction. The Transaction and Code Set Rule adopted the ASC X12N-837 Health Care Claim: Professional, volumes 1 and 2, version 4010, as the standard for electronic submission of professional claims. This standard names the POS code set currently maintained by CMS as the code set to be used for describing sites of service in such claims. POS information is often needed to determine the acceptability of direct billing of Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance services provided by a given provider.
List of Place of Service Codes
Listed below are place of service codes and descriptions. These codes should be used on professional claims to specify the entity where service(s) were rendered. Check with individual payers (e.g., Medicare, Medicaid, other private insurance) for reimbursement policies regarding these codes. If you would like to comment on a code(s) or description(s), please send your request to posinfo@cms.hhs.gov.
| Code(s) | Place of Service Name | Place of Service Description | Effective Date |
| 01 | Pharmacy |
A facility or location where drugs and other medically related items and services are sold, dispensed, or otherwise provided directly to patients.
(Revised, effective October 1, 2005) |
2003-10-01 |
| 02 | Telehealth Provided Other than in Patient’s Home |
The location where health services and health related services are provided or received, through telecommunication technology. Patient is not located in their home when receiving health services or health related services through telecommunication technology.
(Effective January 1, 2017) (Description change effective January 1, 2022, and applicable for Medicare April 1, 2022.) Special Considerations Note that while the modification of POS Code 02 and the creation of POS Code 10 are effective in the National POS code set effective January 1, 2022, Medicare contractors received instructions regarding how to process claims with these codes starting April 4, 2022, so that Medicare would align with existing Telehealth claims processing policy, as well as be considered HIPAA compliant. |
2022-01-01 |
| 03 | School | A facility whose primary purpose is education. | 2003-01-01 |
| 04 | Homeless Shelter |
A facility or location whose primary purpose is to provide temporary housing to homeless individuals (e.g., emergency shelters, individual or family shelters).
Special Considerations Note that for the purposes of receiving durable medical equipment (DME), a homeless shelter is considered the beneficiary's home. Because DME is payable in the beneficiary's home, the crosswalk for Homeless Shelter (code 04) to Office (code 11) that was mandated effective January 1, 2003, may need to be adjusted or local policy developed so that HCPCS codes for DME are covered when other conditions are met and the beneficiary is in a homeless shelter. If desired, local contractors are permitted to work with their medical directors to determine a new crosswalk such as from Homeless Shelter (code 04) to Home (code 12) or Custodial Care Facility (code 33) for DME provided in a homeless shelter setting. If a local contractor is currently paying claims correctly, however, it is not necessary to change the current crosswalk. |
2003-01-01 |
| 05 | Indian Health Service Free-standing Facility |
A facility or location, owned and operated by the Indian Health Service, which provides diagnostic, therapeutic (surgical and non-surgical), and rehabilitation services to American Indians and Alaska Natives who do not require hospitalization.
(See 05-08 Special Considerations below.) |
2003-01-01 |
| 06 | Indian Health Service Provider-based Facility |
A facility or location, owned and operated by the Indian Health Service, which provides diagnostic, therapeutic (surgical and non-surgical), and rehabilitation services rendered by, or under the supervision of, physicians to American Indians and Alaska Natives admitted as inpatients or outpatients.
(See 05-08 Special Considerations below.) |
2003-01-01 |
| 07 | Tribal 638 Free-standing Facility |
A facility or location owned and operated by a federally recognized American Indian or Alaska Native tribe or tribal organization under a 638 agreement, which provides diagnostic, therapeutic (surgical and non-surgical), and rehabilitation services to tribal members who do not require hospitalization.
(See 05-08 Special Considerations below.) |
2003-01-01 |
| 08 | Tribal 638 Provider-based Facility |
A facility or location owned and operated by a federally recognized American Indian or Alaska Native tribe or tribal organization under a 638 agreement, which provides diagnostic, therapeutic (surgical and non-surgical), and rehabilitation services to tribal members admitted as inpatients or outpatients.
(See 05-08 Special Considerations below.) |
2003-01-01 |
| 09 | Prison/Correctional Facility |
A prison, jail, reformatory, work farm, detention center, or any other similar facility maintained by either Federal, State or local authorities for the purpose of confinement or rehabilitation of adult or juvenile criminal offenders.
Special Considerations The addition of code 09 to the POS code set and Medicare claims processing reflects Medicare's compliance with HIPAA laws and regulations. Local contractors must continue to comply with CMS current policy that does not allow payment for Medicare services in a penal institution in most cases. The addition of a POS code for a prison/correctional facility setting does not supersede this policy. (See Pub. 100-04, Medicare Claims Processing, section 10.4, chapter 1.) |
2006-07-01 |
| 10 | Telehealth Provided in Patient’s Home |
The location where health services and health related services are provided or received, through telecommunication technology. Patient is located in their home (which is a location other than a hospital or other facility where the patient receives care in a private residence) when receiving health services or health related services through telecommunication technology.
(This code is effective January 1, 2022, and available to Medicare April 1, 2022.) Special Considerations Note that while the modification of POS Code 02 and the creation of POS Code 10 are effective in the National POS code set effective January 1, 2022, Medicare contractors received instructions regarding how to process claims with these codes starting April 4, 2022, so that Medicare would align with existing Telehealth claims processing policy, as well as be considered HIPAA compliant. |
2022-01-01 |
| 11 | Office | Location, other than a hospital, skilled nursing facility (SNF), military treatment facility, community health center, State or local public health clinic, or intermediate care facility (ICF), where the health professional routinely provides health examinations, diagnosis, and treatment of illness or injury on an ambulatory basis. | prior to 2003 |
| 12 | Home | Location, other than a hospital or other facility, where the patient receives care in a private residence. | prior to 2003 |
| 13 | Assisted Living Facility | Congregate residential facility with self-contained living units providing assessment of each resident's needs and on-site support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with the capacity to deliver or arrange for services including some health care and other services. | 2003-10-01 |
| 14 | Group Home |
A residence, with shared living areas, where clients receive supervision and other services such as social and/or behavioral services, custodial service, and minimal services (e.g., medication administration).
(Revised, effective April 1, 2004.) |
2003-10-01 |
| 15 | Mobile Unit |
A facility/unit that moves from place-to-place equipped to provide preventive, screening, diagnostic, and/or treatment services.
Special Considerations When services are furnished in a mobile unit, they are often provided to serve an entity for which another POS code exists. For example, a mobile unit may be sent to a physician's office or a skilled nursing facility. If the mobile unit is serving an entity for which another POS code already exists, providers should use the POS code for that entity. However, if the mobile unit is not serving an entity which could be described by an existing POS code, the providers are to use the Mobile Unit POS code 15. Apply the non-facility rate to payments for services designated as being furnished in POS code 15; apply the appropriate facility or non-facility rate for the POS code designated when a code other than the mobile unit code is indicated. A physician or practitioner's office, even if mobile, qualifies to serve as a telehealth originating site. Assuming such an office also fulfills the requirement that it be located in either a rural health professional shortage area as defined under section 332(a)(1)(A) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254e(a)(1)(A)) or in a county that is not included in a Metropolitan Statistical Area as defined in section 1886(d)(2)(D) of the Act, the originating physician's office should use POS code 11 (Office) in order to ensure appropriate payment for services on the list of Medicare Telehealth Services. |
2003-01-01 |
| 16 | Temporary Lodging | A short term accommodation such as a hotel, camp ground, hostel, cruise ship or resort where the patient receives care, and which is not identified by any other POS code. | 2008-01-01 |
| 17 | Walk-in Retail Health Clinic |
A walk-in health clinic, other than an office, urgent care facility, pharmacy or independent clinic and not described by any other Place of Service code, that is located within a retail operation and provides, on an ambulatory basis, preventive and primary care services.
(This code is available for use immediately with a final effective date of May 1, 2010) Special Considerations: It should be noted that, while some entities in the industry may elect to use POS code 17 to track the setting of immunizations, Medicare continues to require its billing rules for immunizations claims, which are found in chapter 18, section 10 of this manual. Contractors are to instruct providers and suppliers of immunizations to continue to follow these Medicare billing rules. However, Medicare contractors are to accept and adjudicate claims containing POS code 17, even if its presence on a claim is contrary to these billing instructions. Payment Rate: Not applicable for adjudication of Medicare claims; systems must recognize for HIPAA |
2010-05-01 |
| 19 | Off Campus-Outpatient Hospital | A portion of an off-campus hospital provider based department which provides diagnostic, therapeutic (both surgical and nonsurgical), and rehabilitation services to sick or injured persons who do not require hospitalization or institutionalization. | 2016-01-01 |
| 20 | Urgent Care Facility | Location, distinct from a hospital emergency room, an office, or a clinic, whose purpose is to diagnose and treat illness or injury for unscheduled, ambulatory patients seeking immediate medical attention. | 2003-01-01 |
| 21 | Inpatient Hospital | A facility, other than psychiatric, which primarily provides diagnostic, therapeutic (both surgical and nonsurgical), and rehabilitation services by, or under, the supervision of physicians to patients admitted for a variety of medical conditions. | prior to 2003 |
| 22 | On Campus-Outpatient Hospital |
A portion of a hospital’s main campus which provides diagnostic, therapeutic (both surgical and nonsurgical), and rehabilitation services to sick or injured persons who do not require hospitalization or institutionalization.
(Description change effective January 1, 2016) |
prior to 2003 |
| 23 | Emergency Room – Hospital | A portion of a hospital where emergency diagnosis and treatment of illness or injury is provided. | prior to 2003 |
| 24 | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
A freestanding facility, other than a physician's office, where surgical and diagnostic services are provided on an ambulatory basis.
Special Considerations: When a physician/practitioner furnishes services to a patient in a Medicare-participating ambulatory surgical center (ASC), the POS code 24 (ASC) shall be used. NOTE: Physicians/practitioners who perform services in an ASC shall use POS code 24 (ASC). Physicians/practitioners are not to use POS code 11 (office) for ASC based services unless the physician has an office at the same physical location of the ASC, which meets all other requirements for operating as a physician office at the same physical location as the ASC – including meeting the “distinct entity” criteria defined in the ASC State Operations Manual that precludes the ASC and an adjacent physician office from being open at the same time -- and the physician service was actually performed in the office suite portion of the facility. See Pub 100-07, Medicare State Operations Manual, Appendix L - Guidance for Surveyors: Ambulatory Surgical Centers for a complete set of applicable ASC definitions, basic requirements, and conditions of coverage. It is available at the following link: http://www.cms.gov/manuals/Downloads/som107ap_l_ambulatory.pdf |
prior to 2003 |
| 25 | Birthing Center | A facility, other than a hospital's maternity facilities or a physician's office, which provides a setting for labor, delivery, and immediate post-partum care as well as immediate care of new born infants. | prior to 2003 |
| 26 | Military Treatment Facility | A medical facility operated by one or more of the Uniformed Services. Military Treatment Facility (MTF) also refers to certain former U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) facilities now designated as Uniformed Service Treatment Facilities (USTF). | prior to 2003 |
| 27 | Outreach Site/ Street | A non-permanent location on the street or found environment, not described by any other POS code, where health professionals provide preventive, screening, diagnostic, and/or treatment services to unsheltered homeless individuals. | 2023-10-01 |
| 28-30 | Unassigned | N/A | |
| 31 | Skilled Nursing Facility | A facility which primarily provides inpatient skilled nursing care and related services to patients who require medical, nursing, or rehabilitative services but does not provide the level of care or treatment available in a hospital. | prior to 2003 |
| 32 | Nursing Facility | A facility which primarily provides to residents skilled nursing care and related services for the rehabilitation of injured, disabled, or sick persons, or, on a regular basis, health-related care services above the level of custodial care to other than individuals with intellectual disabilities. | prior to 2003 |
| 33 | Custodial Care Facility | A facility which provides room, board and other personal assistance services, generally on a long-term basis, and which does not include a medical component. | prior to 2003 |
| 34 | Hospice |
A facility, other than a patient's home, in which palliative and supportive care for terminally ill patients and their families are provided.
Special Considerations: When a physician/practitioner furnishes services to a patient under the hospice benefit, use the following guidelines to identify the appropriate POS. When a beneficiary is in an “inpatient” respite or general “inpatient” care stay, the POS code 34 (hospice) shall be used. When a beneficiary who has elected coverage under the Hospice benefit is receiving inpatient hospice care in a hospital, SNF, or hospice inpatient facility, POS code 34 (Hospice) shall be used to designate the POS on the claim. For services provided to a hospice beneficiary in an outpatient setting, such as the physician/nonphysician practitioner’s office (POS 11); the beneficiary’s home (POS 12), i.e., not operated by the hospice; or other outpatient setting (e.g., outpatient hospital (POS 22)), the patient’s physician or nonphysician practitioner or hospice independent attending physician or nurse practitioner, shall assign the POS code that represents that setting, as appropriate. There may be use of nursing homes as the hospice patient’s “home,” where the patient resides in the facility but is receiving a home level of care. In addition, hospices are also operating “houses” or hospice residential entities where hospice patients receive a home level of care. In these cases, physicians and nonphysician practitioners, including the patient’s independent attending physician or nurse practitioner, shall use the appropriate POS code representing the particular setting, e.g., POS code 32 for nursing home, POS code 13 for an assisted living facility, or POS code 14 for group home. |
prior to 2003 |
| 35-40 | Unassigned | N/A | |
| 41 | Ambulance - Land | A land vehicle specifically designed, equipped and staffed for lifesaving and transporting the sick or injured. | prior to 2003 |
| 42 | Ambulance – Air or Water | An air or water vehicle specifically designed, equipped and staffed for lifesaving and transporting the sick or injured. | prior to 2003 |
| 43-48 | Unassigned | N/A | |
| 49 | Independent Clinic | A location, not part of a hospital and not described by any other Place of Service code, that is organized and operated to provide preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic, rehabilitative, or palliative services to outpatients only. | 2003-10-01 |
| 50 | Federally Qualified Health Center | A facility located in a medically underserved area that provides Medicare beneficiaries preventive primary medical care under the general direction of a physician. | prior to 2003 |
| 51 | Inpatient Psychiatric Facility | A facility that provides inpatient psychiatric services for the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness on a 24-hour basis, by or under the supervision of a physician. | prior to 2003 |
| 52 | Psychiatric Facility-Partial Hospitalization | A facility for the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness that provides a planned therapeutic program for patients who do not require full time hospitalization, but who need broader programs than are possible from outpatient visits to a hospital-based or hospital-affiliated facility. | prior to 2003 |
| 53 | Community Mental Health Center | A facility that provides the following services: outpatient services, including specialized outpatient services for children, the elderly, individuals who are chronically ill, and residents of the CMHC's mental health services area who have been discharged from inpatient treatment at a mental health facility; 24 hour a day emergency care services; day treatment, other partial hospitalization services, or psychosocial rehabilitation services; screening for patients being considered for admission to State mental health facilities to determine the appropriateness of such admission; and consultation and education services. | prior to 2003 |
| 54 | Intermediate Care Facility/ Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities | A facility which primarily provides health-related care and services above the level of custodial care to individuals but does not provide the level of care or treatment available in a hospital or SNF. | prior to 2003 |
| 55 | Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Facility | A facility which provides treatment for substance (alcohol and drug) abuse to live-in residents who do not require acute medical care. Services include individual and group therapy and counseling, family counseling, laboratory tests, drugs and supplies, psychological testing, and room and board. | prior to 2003 |
| 56 | Psychiatric Residential Treatment Center | A facility or distinct part of a facility for psychiatric care which provides a total 24-hour therapeutically planned and professionally staffed group living and learning environment. | prior to 2003 |
| 57 | Non-residential Substance Abuse Treatment Facility | A location which provides treatment for substance (alcohol and drug) abuse on an ambulatory basis. Services include individual and group therapy and counseling, family counseling, laboratory tests, drugs and supplies, and psychological testing. | 2003-10-01 |
| 58 | Non-residential Opioid Treatment Facility |
A location that provides treatment for opioid use disorder on an ambulatory basis. Services include methadone and other forms of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT).
Special Considerations NOTE: OUD treatment services furnished at Opioid Treatment Programs are not considered physician services and are separately paid under the bundled payment established under sections 1833(a)(1)(CC) and 1834(w) of the Social Security Act. |
2020-01-01 |
| 59 | Unassigned | N/A | |
| 60 | Mass Immunization Center | A location where providers administer pneumococcal pneumonia and influenza virus vaccinations and submit these services as electronic media claims, paper claims, or using the roster billing method. This generally takes place in a mass immunization setting, such as, a public health center, pharmacy, or mall but may include a physician office setting. | prior to 2003 |
| 61 | Comprehensive Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility | A facility that provides comprehensive rehabilitation services under the supervision of a physician to inpatients with physical disabilities. Services include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, social or psychological services, and orthotics and prosthetics services. | prior to 2003 |
| 62 | Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facility | A facility that provides comprehensive rehabilitation services under the supervision of a physician to outpatients with physical disabilities. Services include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech pathology services. | prior to 2003 |
| 63-64 | Unassigned | N/A | |
| 65 | End-Stage Renal Disease Treatment Facility | A facility other than a hospital, which provides dialysis treatment, maintenance, and/or training to patients or caregivers on an ambulatory or home-care basis. | prior to 2003 |
| 66 | Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) Center |
A facility or location providing comprehensive medical and social services as part of the Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). This includes, but is not limited to, primary care; social work services; restorative therapies, including physical and occupational therapy; personal care and supportive services; nutritional counseling; recreational therapy; and meals when the individual is enrolled in PACE.
(Effective August 1, 2024) |
2024-08-01 |
| 67-70 | Unassigned | N/A | |
| 71 | Public Health Clinic | A facility maintained by either State or local health departments that provides ambulatory primary medical care under the general direction of a physician. | prior to 2003 |
| 72 | Rural Health Clinic | A certified facility which is located in a rural medically underserved area that provides ambulatory primary medical care under the general direction of a physician. | prior to 2003 |
| 73-80 | Unassigned | N/A | |
| 81 | Independent Laboratory | A laboratory certified to perform diagnostic and/or clinical tests independent of an institution or a physician's office. | prior to 2003 |
| 82-98 | Unassigned | N/A | |
| 99 | Other Place of Service | Other place of service not identified above. | prior to 2003 |
Other Special Considerations
05-08 Special Considerations
Medicare does not currently use the POS codes designated for these settings. Follow the instructions you have received regarding how to process claims for services rendered in IHS and Tribal 638 settings. If you receive claims with these codes, you must initially accept them in terms of HIPAA compliance. However, follow your "return as unprocessable" procedures after this initial compliance check. Follow your "return as unprocessable" procedures when you receive paper claims with these codes. (Note that while these codes became part of the National POS code set effective January 1, 2003, Medicare contractors received instructions regarding how to process claims with these codes effective October 1, 2003, so that Medicare could be HIPAA compliant by October 16, 2003).
Special Considerations for Services Furnished to Registered Inpatients
When a physician/practitioner furnishes services to a registered inpatient, payment is made under the PFS at the facility rate. To that end, a physician/practitioner/supplier furnishing services to a patient who is a registered inpatient, shall, at a minimum, report the inpatient hospital POS code 21 irrespective of the setting where the patient actually receives the face-to-face encounter. In other words, reporting the inpatient hospital POS code 21 is a minimum requirement for purposes of triggering the facility payment under the PFS when services are provided to a registered inpatient. If the physician/practitioner is aware of the exact setting the beneficiary is a registered inpatient, the appropriate inpatient POS code may be reported consistent with the code list annotated in this section (instead of POS 21). For example, a physician/practitioner may use POS 31, for a patient in a SNF receiving inpatient skilled nursing care, POS 51, for a patient registered in a Psychiatric Inpatient Facility, and POS 61 for patients registered in a Comprehensive Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility.
Special Considerations for Outpatient Hospital Departments
When a physician/practitioner furnishes services to an outpatient of a hospital, payment is made under the PFS at the facility rate. Physicians/practitioners who furnish services to a hospital outpatient, including in a hospital outpatient department (including in a provider-based department of that hospital) or under arrangement to a hospital shall, at a minimum, report the outpatient hospital POS code 22 irrespective of the setting where the patient actually receives the face-to-face encounter. In other words, reporting the outpatient hospital POS code 22 is a minimum requirement for purposes of triggering the facility payment amount under the PFS when services are provided to a registered outpatient. If the physician/practitioner is aware of the exact setting the beneficiary is a registered hospital outpatient, the appropriate outpatient facility POS code may be reported consistent with the code list annotated in this section (instead of POS 22). For example, physicians/practitioners may use POS code 23 for services furnished to a patient registered in the emergency room, POS 24 for patients registered in an ambulatory surgical center, and POS 56 for patients registered in a psychiatric residential treatment center.
NOTE: Physicians/practitioners who perform services in a hospital outpatient department shall use, at a minimum, POS code 22 (Outpatient Hospital). Code 22 (or other appropriate outpatient department POS code as described above) shall be used unless the physician maintains separate office space in the hospital or on the hospital campus and that physician office space is not considered a provider-based department of the hospital as defined in 42. C.F.R. 413.65. Physicians shall use POS code 11 (office) when services are performed in a separately maintained physician office space in the hospital or on the hospital campus and that physician office space is not considered a provider-based department of the hospital. Use of POS code 11(office) in the hospital outpatient department or on hospital campus is subject to the physician self-referral provisions set forth in 42 C.F.R 411.353 through 411.357.
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