CMS issued additional guidance regarding the new provision for limited direct access to audiology services that will go into effect on January 1, 2023. As stated by CMS in this guidance,
This modification in our finalized policy requires multiple changes to our claims processing systems which will take some time to fully operationalize, possibly by July 2023. Until such time, however, for dates of service on or after January 1, 2023, audiologists may elect to use modifier AB, along with any of the 36 CPT codes on the finalized list, and following the safeguards built into modifier AB. Note: More information will be provided as it becomes available.
This same guidance also includes a list of audiology services covered under Medicare and clearly denotes which can be used with the AB modifier.
Visit the CMS guidance to access the code list and other explanations about the limited direct access benefit.
Recent Posts
New Survey for Children with Unilateral Hearing Loss
The prevalence of unilateral hearing loss (UHL) is estimated to be between 3–6 percent of school-aged children, and congenital UHL is approximately 1 per 1000…
Sleep Disorders and Hearing Loss
Everyone needs sleep. It is crucial for both physical and mental well-being, restoring, and rejuvenating the body and mind. However, the World Health Organization estimates…
Congress Passes One Big Beautiful Bill Act Amid Major Medicaid Overhaul
On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed the sweeping One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), marking the most significant federal health care funding overhaul in decades. The legislation…