Ignore the earlier version of CMS 100-04, Change Request 13314 and use new place of service (POS) code 27 (Outreach site/street) when appropriate.
In the Aug. 10 version of the Change Request, CMS announced that it hadn’t “identified a need” for the new code for Medicare billing. But the agency
updated the Change Request on Sept. 20 and announced that it will accept the new code “to align with broader CMS efforts to address economic, social, and other obstacles impacting Medicare beneficiary healthcare access.”
Share the full descriptor with billing staff:
A non-permanent location on the street or found environment, not described by any other POS code, where health professionals provide preventive, screening, diagnostic, and/or treatment services to unsheltered homeless individuals.
CMS assigned a non-facility payment rate and set an Oct. 1 effective date for the code. But Medicare administrative contractors (MAC) have until Jan. 1, 2024, to implement the update.
Practices should continue to use POS 04 (Homeless shelter) when the patient is in a temporary housing shelter such as an emergency shelter, individual shelter or family shelter.