Therapist meeting with a patient in an assisted living facility

POS 13

Place of Service Code 13: Assisted Living Facility

POS Code

Telehealth

What is Place of Service Code 13?

POS 13 designates therapy services provided within an assisted living facility (ALF) where the patient resides. ALFs are residential settings for adults who need help with daily activities but do not require skilled nursing care. Therapists providing mental health services to ALF residents bill POS 13 to indicate the service location.

When to Use POS 13

Use POS 13 when providing in-person therapy to a patient who lives in an assisted living or adult residential care facility, and the session takes place on-site at that facility.

CPT Codes Commonly Paired with POS 13

These CPT codes are frequently billed with Place of Service 13 in therapy practice:

CPT 90837 - Psychotherapy, 60 minutes CPT 90834 - Psychotherapy, 45 minutes CPT 90832 - Psychotherapy, 30 minutes CPT 90791 - Psychiatric diagnostic evaluation CPT 90853 - Group psychotherapy

Billing Notes for POS 13

Important: Confirm the specific ALF is not classified as a skilled nursing facility (SNF) before using POS 13 — SNF billing uses POS 31. Some Medicare Advantage and Medicaid managed care plans require pre-authorization for ALF mental health services. List the ALF address in Box 32.

Common Mistakes with POS 13

✗Using POS 31 (SNF) instead of POS 13 for assisted living settings — these are distinct facility types
✗Billing without verifying payer authorization requirements for facility-based therapy
✗Not listing the ALF's address in Box 32 of the CMS-1500
✗Using POS 11 (office) when the session is conducted at the facility, not the provider's office

Adding POS 13 to a Superbill

Superbilled lets you specify the Place of Service code on every superbill you generate. When creating a superbill with POS 13, ensure your NPI, the patient's diagnosis code, date of service, fee charged, and amount paid are all included. The correct POS code helps insurers process your claim accurately and avoid unnecessary denials.

Generate a superbill with POS 13 free