Place of Service 31 and Place of Service 32

Place of Service 31 and Place of Service 32 in Medical Billing

Place of Service 31:

Place of service 31 in medical billing is also called as POS 31. When the procedures are performed in “Skilled Nursing Facility”, then it should be indicated with the place of service 31.

Place of Service 31 Description:

Place of service 31 is indicated on HCFA claim form, when a facility which mainly delivers inpatient skilled nursing care and associated health care services to patients who need health, nursing, or rehabilitative treatment, but does not provide the level of medical treatments available in a hospital.

Frequently asked question on place of service 31:

When patient enrolled in Skilled Nursing Facility and goes to physician office to see the physician, in this case which place of service (place of service 31 or place of service 11) is correct to bill the professional services, when the patient was registered as inpatient skilled nursing facility?

Answer:

As per CMS guidelines, when patient registered as inpatient status and they are present in physician office, then they should be reported with place of service for whatever the status they are inpatient (Inpatient hospital – place of service 21, SNF – place of service 31, Psychiatric Inpatient facility – place of service 51, Comprehensive Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility – place of service – 61).

For the above question, it is appropriate to bill the office visit with place of service 31, when the patient was registered as inpatient Skilled Nursing Facility.

Place of Service 32 in Medical Billing:

Place of Service 32 is also called as POS 32 in Medical Billing. When the procedure rendered in nursing facility, then we indicate those claims with the place of service 32.

Place of Service 32 Description:

Place of service 32 is indicated, when a facility which primarily provides to residents skilled nursing care and related services for the rehabilitation of injured, disabled, or sick persons, or, on a regular basis, health care services above the level of custodial care to other than individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Place of Service code 31 vs Place of service code 32:

Most of them are confused when choosing the place of service between Place of Service 31 and Place of Service 32 whenever billing physician visits to a nursing home. As we know for place of 32 reimbursement is more than place of service 32, so we should be very careful when choosing to avoid fraudulent billing of the claim.

If the patient is in Part A Skilled Nursing Facility stay, we use the place of service 31(Skilled Nursing facility or SNF).

If the patient is in Nursing Facility or non-covered Skilled Nursing Facility and who do not have Part A skilled nursing facility benefits, then we use the place of service 32.

For example:

If patient is in Part A skilled Nursing facility stay, then nursing facility procedure codes that is 99304-99318 shall be used with place of service 31.

If patient is in Nursing facility or Non-covered Skilled Nursing facility and if doesn’t have Part A skilled nursing facility benefits, then procedure codes from 99304-99318 shall be used with place of service 32.