Place of Service Codes for Therapy: 02, 10, 11 Explained

Place of Service (POS) codes are two-digit numbers on a superbill or insurance claim that tell the insurer where a therapy session took place. Using the wrong code is one of the most common and easily fixable reasons claims get denied. Here is what codes 02, 10, and 11 mean — and when to use each one.

What Is a Place of Service Code?

Place of Service codes are maintained by CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) and are standardized across the entire U.S. healthcare billing system. Every insurance claim — whether on a CMS-1500 form or a superbill — must include the POS code for where the service was delivered. The code affects how the insurer processes the claim, what reimbursement rates apply, and whether the session falls under the plan's telehealth benefits or standard outpatient benefits.

POS 11: Office

Use when: The session took place in your office or clinic — any physical location you use regularly for outpatient services.

POS 11 is the default code for in-person therapy. It applies whether you are in a private office, a suite in a medical building, or a counseling center. If your client came to your physical location and sat in the room with you, POS 11 is correct.

POS 11 generally commands the highest reimbursement rate among the three codes because it is associated with overhead costs (rent, utilities, staff). Insurers calculate their "facility" vs "non-facility" rates differently, and an office is considered a non-facility setting — meaning the allowed amount is typically higher.

POS 02: Telehealth (Provider Not at Home)

Use when: The session was conducted via telehealth and you (the provider) were not at your home — typically at your office or another healthcare facility.

POS 02 was the original telehealth code before the COVID-19 pandemic created widespread expansion of telehealth coverage. After 2020, many insurers shifted to using POS 10 for telehealth sessions where the patient is at home, and POS 02 became more specifically associated with the provider's location rather than the patient's.

In practice, POS 02 is now less commonly used for routine outpatient telehealth. Check your specific payer's billing guidance — some still use 02, others have moved fully to 10.

POS 10: Telehealth (Patient at Home)

Use when: The session was conducted via telehealth and the patient was in their home or a non-healthcare location.

POS 10 was introduced specifically to reflect the reality of telehealth post-pandemic, where clients receive services from their own homes rather than traveling to a provider location. For most therapists who offer telehealth, POS 10 is the correct code for video sessions where the client is at home.

For a complete guide to telehealth billing including modifiers, refer to our telehealth therapy billing guide.

Quick Reference: Which Code to Use

• In-person session at your office: POS 11
• Video session, client at home: POS 10
• Video session, client at a medical facility or not at home: POS 02 (check payer-specific guidance)
• Home visit (you traveling to client's home): POS 12

Why the POS Code Matters

The POS code affects more than just claim routing:

• Reimbursement rate: Payers often reimburse differently for telehealth (POS 10/02) vs in-person (POS 11). Some plans reimburse telehealth at the full in-person rate; others apply a telehealth discount.
• Compliance: The POS code must match your clinical documentation. If your notes say "video session" but the claim shows POS 11, that is a billing error.
• Prior authorization: Some plans require separate prior authorization for telehealth services and will not process a POS 10/02 claim without it.

Superbills and POS Codes

Every superbill you generate for a client needs the correct POS code. If a client submits a superbill with POS 11 for a session that was clearly conducted via video — and their clinical records show a telehealth session — the insurer may audit the discrepancy. Accuracy here is not just good billing practice; it is a compliance issue.

How Superbilled Helps

Superbilled lets you select the place of service code when creating each session, and it pre-fills the correct code based on how you set up the appointment — in-person or telehealth. The result is a superbill that accurately reflects how and where the session was delivered, reducing claim denials and compliance risk.