Place of Service 20 – POS 20 in Medical Billing 2024

If you are a resident of the States, then probably one thing you would know is that there are a List of the place of service codes for each medical service. This code is mandatory to mention while you have to ensure that you get hold of the accurate one. Place of service 20 code used in medical billing when Urgent Care Facility services provided to the patient.

In case of misinterpretation, your claim will be refused due to a lack of authentication. The respective pos 20 code is referred to the medical services that have been extended to the citizens in an urgent care facility.

It is viable that you remember the place of service 20 code in case you want to apply for medical insurance.

What does an urgent care facility refer to in the United States?

One might ask what does this pos 20 code refer to and which are the areas of service that they cover. In very simple words the code refers to all the medical services which are extended in the urgent care facility.

As the name would suggest, this medical service is usually extended to those who walk in and have immediate requirements. The protocol of service is usually like the emergency service at hospitals.

They offer quite some comprehensive care as well. Most of these facilities have a trained physician along with a team who is specifically focused on providing critical care.

The major catch about the place of service 20 code is that they do not provide a twenty-four-hour facility. However, the one thing that they do provide is early treatment and they do seem to open at pretty weird hours of the morning.

Not only check-up but even facilities like stitching, x-rays and other types of tests can be conducted in these facilities. They are also in constant touch with the local hospitals.

In case there are any patients who need to be transferred on an immediate basis, they will even take care of the same.

The physicians are always on the site during working hours so that there can be ready assistance. Along with him, there is a highly trained team of nurses as well as other medical staff.

The pos 20 is an exceptionally important code to remember specifically if you take services from the urgent care facilities. If you fail to mention the right code during the claim, there is a big possibility that the claim could get rejected.

This is because professionals generally tend to authenticate before passing the insurance claim.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q1. Does the pos 20 code imply only urgent care facilities?

Ans. Yes, the place of service 20 code refers to only the urgent care facilities. These services are focused on providing immediate care in case there is an immediate medical need.

Q2. Do I need to mention the pos 20 code if I want to get a medical claim for my stitches?

Ans. Yes, in case you want to get the claim for your stitches that you have got from an urgent medical facility, it is necessary that you mention the code pos 20. If you do not mention the code appropriately, your medical insurance will get refuted under all likelihood.

Q3. Why do I have to mention the code?

Ans. There is a unique code for each medical service that you get under the varied medical facilities in the United States of America. The code has been assigned so that there is no confusion while the insurance officials can check the authenticity without any hassles.

Final Words

In medical billing, the Place of Service (POS) code is used to indicate the location where a healthcare service or procedure was performed. The appropriate Place of Service code for an Urgent Care Facility is typically Place of Service 20.

POS code 20 specifically represents an “Urgent Care Facility,” a facility that provides immediate medical care for non-life-threatening conditions. It is typically used for services provided on an unscheduled, walk-in basis outside regular office hours.


Using the correct POS code is essential for accurate medical billing and reimbursement. It helps insurance companies and payers understand the setting in which the services were rendered, which can impact reimbursement rates and coverage policies.


When submitting medical claims for services provided at an Urgent Care Facility, it is necessary to ensure that the correct POS code (POS 20) is included on the claim form to reflect where the services were provided accurately.


Please note that while Place of Service 20 is generally used for Urgent Care Facilities, it’s always recommended to consult the official guidelines provided by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) or other relevant billing authorities to ensure compliance with specific coding and billing requirements.

Related Article:

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  • NSingh (MBA, RCM Expert)

    The author and contributor of this blog "NSingh" is working in Medical Billing and Coding since 2010. He is MBA in marketing and Having vaste experience in different scopes of Medical Billing and Coding as AR-Follow-up, Payment Posting, Charge posting, Coding, etc.