Place of Service Code 49: Independent Clinic
What is Place of Service Code 49?
POS 49 designates a freestanding outpatient clinic that is not part of a hospital system. Independent clinics operate autonomously and typically bill at non-facility rates. This POS is commonly used by group practices, behavioral health clinics, and multi-provider outpatient centers that are not hospital-affiliated.
When to Use POS 49
Use POS 49 when providing therapy at an independently owned outpatient clinic, group practice, or behavioral health center that is not affiliated with or owned by a hospital. This is the correct POS for most multi-provider private outpatient clinics.
CPT Codes Commonly Paired with POS 49
These CPT codes are frequently billed with Place of Service 49 in therapy practice:
Billing Notes for POS 49
Common Mistakes with POS 49
- ✗Using POS 11 (single office) when billing from a multi-provider independent clinic — POS 49 is more accurate
- ✗Confusing POS 49 (independent clinic) with POS 22 (hospital outpatient) for hospital-affiliated practices
- ✗Not updating the enrolled service location when a group practice adds a new site
- ✗Billing POS 49 for a facility that qualifies as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), which has its own POS
Adding POS 49 to a Superbill
Superbilled lets you specify the Place of Service code on every superbill you generate. When creating a superbill with POS 49, 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.