Place of Service Codes for Mental Health Billing: POS 02, 10, 11 and 12
A place of service (POS) code is the two-digit code on a claim that tells the payer where the visit happened. The codes come from the CMS.gov POS code set. This guide covers the codes therapists and psychiatrists use most, including the telehealth codes POS 02 and 10. Checked against CMS.gov on 9/29/26.
Get My Free ConsultationIn this guide
- ✓ In-person POS codes: 11, 12, 13, 14, 33, 53, 55
- ✓ Telehealth POS codes: 10 and 02
- ✓ Which code fits which visit
- ✓ Medicare telehealth rules right now
- ✓ Six mistakes that cause denials
What are place of service codes?
A place of service (POS) code is a two-digit code on the claim that says where the patient received the service. Payers use it to decide coverage and the payment rate. Place of service codes do not change the time range of the CPT code. Get them wrong and the claim can be denied or paid at the wrong rate. CMS publishes the list; see every CMS place of service code, 01 through 99.
The rule of thumb for telehealth: for Medicare, the POS code shows where the patient was (POS 10 at home, POS 02 anywhere else). Modifiers are a separate topic; see the CPT modifiers guide. Time ranges are on the Non-E/M CPT codes page and the E/M and home visit codes page.
Place of service codes for mental health billing
Jump to a group. The last table helps you pick a POS code fast. Labels show where each rule comes from.
In-person and home place of service codes
Use these when the patient is seen in person. Names come from the CMS place of service code set.
| Code | Name | Use it when | Document |
|---|---|---|---|
| POS 11 | OfficeLocation where health professionals give exams, diagnosis and treatment on an ambulatory basis. | The patient comes to your office or clinic. | Place of service on the claim matches where the patient was on the date of service. |
| POS 12 | HomeA private residence. | You see the patient in person at their home. | Place of service on the claim matches where the patient was on the date of service. Pair with the home visit codes 99341–99350 if you bill E/M. |
| POS 13 | Assisted living facilityCongregate residential facility with self-contained living units. | You see the patient in person at an assisted living facility. | Place of service on the claim matches where the patient was on the date of service. |
| POS 14 | Group homeResidence with shared living areas that provides supervision and behavioral or custodial services. | You see the patient in person at a group home. | Place of service on the claim matches where the patient was on the date of service. |
| POS 33 | Custodial care facilityFacility that provides room, board and personal assistance. | You see the patient in person at a custodial care facility. | Place of service on the claim matches where the patient was on the date of service. |
| POS 53 | Community mental health centerFacility that provides outpatient services, emergency care, day treatment and screening. | You bill from a community mental health center. | Confirm the facility is enrolled and credentialed for this POS with each payer. |
| POS 55 | Residential substance abuse treatment facilityFacility that treats live-in residents who do not need acute medical care. | You see the patient in person at this type of facility. | Place of service on the claim matches where the patient was on the date of service. |
Telehealth place of service codes
Two codes, split by where the patient is. Medicare has used both since January 1, 2024.
| Code | Name | Use it when | Document |
|---|---|---|---|
| POS 10 | Telehealth provided in the patient's homeMedicare pays POS 10 at the non-facility rate (CMS Telehealth FAQ, Q8). | The patient is at home and you see them by telehealth. | Place of service on the claim matches where the patient was on the date of service. Note the patient's location in the record. |
| POS 02 | Telehealth provided other than in the patient's homeThe patient is not at home. | The patient is somewhere other than home, such as a car, a workplace or another clinic, and you see them by telehealth. | Place of service on the claim matches where the patient was on the date of service. Note the patient's location in the record. |
Some private payers ask for POS 11 with a telehealth modifier instead of POS 02 or 10. That is a payer rule, not a CMS rule. Ask each payer which POS it wants for telehealth.
Which place of service code do I use?
Pick the row that matches where the patient was and how you saw them. These follow the CMS code definitions and apply to Medicare. Private payers can differ.
| Scenario | POS | Use it when | Document |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patient comes to your office | Office visitYou see the patient in person. | POS 11 | Date of service and time or MDM as the CPT code requires. |
| Video visit, patient at home | Telehealth in the homeThe patient is at home during a video visit. | POS 10 | Patient location noted. |
| Video visit, patient somewhere else | Telehealth outside the homeThe patient is not at home during a video visit. | POS 02 | Patient location noted. |
| You go to the patient's home | In-person home visitYou see the patient in person at their private residence. | POS 12 | Address type noted; use the home visit codes if you bill E/M. |
- Anywhere in the U.S. CMS says beneficiaries can get Medicare telehealth services anywhere in the United States and territories through December 31, 2027. Source: CMS, Telehealth FAQ (updated 2/26/26).
- In-person visit for mental health. The same FAQ says an in-person visit within six months of the first mental health telehealth service, then at least every 12 months, applies after December 31, 2027. Patients who start by 12/31/27 count as established.
- Audio-only. Audio-only is allowed through 12/31/27. After that, the FAQ limits it to patients who cannot or will not use video, when the practitioner can offer video.
- Billing from home. The CMS booklet says practitioners working from home can bill from their enrolled practice location as if the service were in person. Source: CMS, Telehealth & Remote Monitoring (MLN901705, Dec. 2025).
These are Medicare rules and change often. Private payers and state Medicaid programs set their own rules. Verify with each payer, and reconfirm the dates before you publish or rely on them.
Six place of service mistakes that cause denials
Using POS 02 when the patient is at home
POS 10 means the patient is in their home during telehealth. POS 02 means anywhere else.
Using POS 12 for a video visit
POS 12 is an in-person visit at a private residence. It is not a telehealth code.
Billing POS 11 for a telehealth visit
POS 11 means the patient came to the office. Video visits use POS 10 or POS 02.
Skipping the patient location in the note
Both telehealth POS codes depend on where the patient was. Record it.
Using a reserved code number
CMS leaves some numbers unassigned. Check the complete list before you bill a code.
Assuming one payer’s rule covers all
Medicare, private payers, state Medicaid and state law can all differ. Verify with each payer.
Place of service codes: frequently asked questions
What is the difference between POS 02 and POS 10?
POS 10 is telehealth provided in the patient's home. POS 02 is telehealth provided somewhere other than the patient's home. CMS has recognized both since January 1, 2024, and Medicare pays POS 10 at the non-facility rate. Source: CMS, Place of Service Code Set.
What place of service code do I use for a home visit?
Use POS 12 when you see the patient in person at their private residence. Assisted living is POS 13, a group home is POS 14 and a custodial care facility is POS 33. If you bill E/M for the visit, use the home visit codes 99341–99350.
How long can Medicare patients get mental health telehealth from home?
CMS says Medicare telehealth services can be received anywhere in the U.S. through December 31, 2027. An in-person visit requirement for mental health telehealth then applies. Reconfirm these dates before relying on them. Source: CMS, Telehealth FAQ (updated 2/26/26).
Where can I see every place of service code?
The complete list is on CMS.gov. Our page lists all CMS place of service codes, 01 through 99, with the official CMS names and the reserved numbers.
Do modifiers go with place of service codes?
They are separate. The POS code says where the visit happened. A modifier says something about how the service was done. Some payers want both. See the CPT modifiers guide.
Where these place of service and modifier rules come from
- CMS, Place of Service Code Set (page modified 02/17/2026) — POS names and descriptions
- CMS, Telehealth FAQ (updated 2/26/26) — POS 02 and 10, payment rate, telehealth dates, mental health in-person rule, audio-only
- CMS, Telehealth & Remote Monitoring (MLN901705, December 2025) — modifiers 95, GT and GQ; billing from home
- Telehealth.HHS.gov, Billing and coding Medicare Fee-for-Service claims (updated Jan. 17, 2025) — modifiers 93 and FQ for audio-only
Current as of last search (9/29/26). Reconfirm before publishing. Medicare rules only: private-payer, state Medicaid and state law rules are not covered here and often differ. For quick reference only: verify against the current AMA CPT manual and each payer's policy before billing. This is operational billing guidance, not legal advice.
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