Understanding Place of Service Codes for ABA

What Is a Place of Service Code?

The Place of Service (POS) code on a claim identifies the physical location where an ABA service was provided. Payers use this code to determine appropriate reimbursement rates, as commercial insurance and Medicaid often reimburse differently by setting.

Common POS Codes for ABA

POS Code	Description	ABA Use
02	Telehealth — Patient Home	Telehealth services when patient is at home
10	Telehealth — Patient Not Home	Telehealth when patient is at a different location
11	Office	Clinic-based ABA services
12	Home	In-home ABA therapy
03	School	ABA services provided at the patient's school
99	Other Place	Community-based services (park, library, etc.)

Reimbursement Implications

Many commercial payers reimburse at different rates depending on POS:

• POS 11 (Office/Clinic) — Typically highest reimbursement; overhead costs factored in
• POS 12 (Home) — Often reimbursed at the same rate as office; some payers pay slightly less
• POS 02/10 (Telehealth) — Post-COVID, most major payers have permanent telehealth parity laws; reimbursement often equals in-person

Tips for ABA Practices

• Always document the actual service location in the patient record — don't assume POS from the authorization
• Some authorizations are location-specific; verify whether your auth covers home AND clinic services
• If a patient transitions from home to clinic, notify the payer and update the authorization if required
• School-based services (POS 03) may be covered differently depending on whether the payer has a school-exclusion clause