Article from PREFERRED Network News (PNN) September 2003, A PREFERRED Therapy Providers Newsletter

NEW PLACE OF SERVICE CODE 49 EFFECTIVE 10/1/03

There's a new code in town, and it may be taking over (for physical therapy claims, that is)! CMS recently added a new Place of Service Code 49 to define an INDEPENDENT CLINIC. Code 49 depicts "A location, not part of a hospital and not described by any other Place of Service code, that is organized and operated to provide preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic, rehabilitative, or palliative service to outpatients only." Most of PREFERRED's network providers fit this description. Most health plans are aware of this code and should be accepting it effective 10/1/03 . For a list of all current Place of Service code descriptions, go to http://cms.hhs.gov/states/posdata.pdf