Place of Service 02 vs 10
Use place of service 10 when the patient receives telehealth at home, and place of service 02 when they are anywhere else, such as a clinic, school, or workplace. The distinction matters because many payers pay POS 10 claims at the in-person facility-free rate while POS 02 can price at the lower facility rate.
The two telehealth place of service codes
- POS 02, Telehealth provided other than in patient’s home. The patient was at a clinic, hospital outpatient department, school, or any location that is not their residence.
- POS 10, Telehealth provided in patient’s home. The patient was at their residence, which includes temporary lodging where they are living.
The place of service describes the patient’s location during the visit, never the provider’s. A physician at the office seeing a patient who is home bills POS 10.
Why the split changes payment
Many payers, following Medicare’s lead, tie payment parity to the POS code. POS 10 claims frequently price at the non-facility rate, the same as an office visit, while POS 02 can price at the lower facility rate on the theory that another site of service is absorbing overhead. On a full OB panel of virtual visits, coding home visits as POS 02 quietly shaves several dollars off every encounter. That is the whole reason this page exists.
How they pair with modifier 95
POS answers where the patient was; modifier 95 answers how the visit happened. A synchronous video visit needs both: the E/M code, modifier 95, and the POS matching the patient’s location. See Modifier 95 for the modifier-side rules.
| Patient location | POS | Modifier | Typical pricing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 10 | 95 | Non-facility rate |
| Clinic or other site | 02 | 95 | Facility rate (payer-dependent) |
Documentation that supports the POS code
- Record the patient’s stated location at the start of each telehealth visit
- For OB panels with recurring virtual visits, capture location each time; patients move
- Keep the telehealth consent on file, many payers require it annually
FAQ
What does place of service 10 mean? The patient received the telehealth service in their home, including temporary housing where they currently live.
What does place of service 02 mean? The patient received telehealth somewhere other than home, for example at a clinic acting as the originating site.
Which POS do I use if the patient is in their car? Payers differ, but the common reading is POS 10 if the patient is at their residence (in the driveway counts for most) and POS 02 otherwise. When it matters for payment, document the stated location verbatim.
Do POS 02 and 10 apply to audio-only visits? Yes, the POS code describes location regardless of modality. The modality is flagged by the modifier (95 for video, 93 for audio-only where covered).