Telehealth Billing in 2026: POS 02, POS 10, AHCAH POS 21 and Modifier 95
Current guidance
Telehealth rules depend on the date of service, payer, service, modality and patient location. Check eligibility before selecting claim modifiers.
Use current dates
CMS's February 2026 FAQ reflects extensions through December 31, 2027 for major Medicare telehealth flexibilities. Older January 2026 expiration guidance is superseded.
Record the patient's location
For ordinary outpatient telehealth, POS 10 identifies the patient's home and POS 02 identifies another location. Check the service's coverage and the current payer instructions for audio-video or audio-only modifiers. The AHCAH inpatient situation below is a distinct exception.
AHCAH patients remain hospital inpatients
CMS's October 1, 2026 newsletter instructs clinicians to use POS 21 with modifier 95 for telehealth furnished to patients enrolled in Acute Hospital Care at Home. Verify enrollment and admission status rather than choosing POS 10 solely from the patient's home address. The newsletter date is not a stated new effective date.
Document the encounter
Record modality, locations, consent when required, clinical work and time when used for code selection. Do not assume video and audio-only services have identical requirements or that one modifier combination fits every payer.
Related code pages
Sources and next steps
- CMS Telehealth FAQ, February 26, 2026
- HHS Medicare telehealth payment policies
- CMS October 1, 2026 AHCAH telehealth reminder
Source links checked 2026-10-03. RVUDoc editorial reference; not an independently certified coding review.
Educational reference, not billing or legal advice. Verify against payer contracts and your compliance team before claim submission. Last updated 2026-10-03.