On March 31, 2021, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) expanded the list of authorized telehealth services with the temporary addition of 15 audiology codes. Through the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, audiologists will now be covered to provide these additional services via telehealth delivery.
CMS received waiver authority last year to expand the list of covered telehealth services during the pandemic. On April 30, CMS named all professionals able to bill Medicare for their services as eligible telehealth providers, opening the door for audiologists. CMS added then four cochlear implant codes to the list.
The recent addition of codes expands further eligibility for coverage of tele-audiology services. The list below reflects the added services, and the full Medicare Authorized Telehealth Services List is available from CMS.
Added Audiology Services Temporarily Authorized by Medicare for Telehealth During the COVID-19 Pandemic
92550 | Tympanometry and reflex threshold measurements. |
92552 | Pure tone audiometry; air only. |
92553 | Audiometry air and bone. |
92555 | Speech threshold audiometry. |
92556 | Speech audiometry complete. |
92557 | Comprehensive hearing test. |
92563 | Tone decay hearing test. |
92565 | Stenger test, pure tone. |
92567 | Tympanometry. |
92568 | Acoustic reflex threshold testing. |
92570 | Acoustic immittance testing. |
92587 | Evoked auditory test limited. |
92625 | Tinnitus assessment. |
92626 | Evaluation of auditory function for implant candidacy or postoperative status of implanted device(s); first hour. |
92627 | Evaluation of auditory function for implant candidacy or postoperative status of implanted device(s); each additional 15 minutes. |
Related Posts
Biden-Harris Administration Releases Playbook to Address Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)
A growing body of evidence demonstrates the connection between health outcomes to income, education, nutrition, housing, environmental exposures, and other social circumstances. Similarly, studies have shown that interventions addressing SDOH can improve health outcomes and reduce health care costs. In response, the Biden-Harris Administration has released a playbook outlining new or strengthened initiatives that agencies…
Free Hearing Aids from Cochlear Implant Manufacturer May Violate Fraud and Abuse Laws
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) posted on October 25, 2023 Advisory Opinion No. 23-08, in which OIG rejected a proposed arrangement from a cochlear implant device manufacturer (the requestor) that would provide a free hearing aid to certain qualified patients who received a cochlear implant. OIG concluded the…
Representatives Bilirakis and Cartwright Introduce the Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act of 2023 (H.R. 6445)
On November 17, 2023, Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Matt Cartwright (D-PA) introduced the Medicare Audiology Access improvement Act (H.R. 6445). This legislation is also co-sponsored by Representatives Johnson (R-OH), Shakowsky (D-IL), Mace (R-SC), Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Trone (D-MD), Webster (R-FL), Cohen (D-TN), LaMalfa (R-CA), Grijalva (D-AZ), Foster (D-IL) and Pocan (D-WI). Senators Elizabeth…