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FY21 Omnibus Appropriations Bill Benefits Audiology Medicare Reimbursement

On January 11, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar extended the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) declaration effective January 21, 2021, for an additional 90 days. This means that all of the telehealth and other waivers and flexibilities that have been implemented during the PHE will remain in effect until at least April 21, 2021.

Final Stimulus Package Includes Partial Relief from 2021 Medicare Reimbursement Cuts to Audiology

On December 21, 2020, Congress passed a new stimulus package that includes provisions to mitigate planned Medicare reimbursement cuts for a variety of providers, including audiologists. 

Academy Encourages CMS to Allow Audiologists to Use Medicare Online Assessment “G” Codes

The Academy has delivered a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) urging them to issue a Correction Notice to the 2021 Physician Fee Schedule to add audiologists to the list of providers able to use online assessment “G” codes designed for practitioners who are not authorized to perform evaluation and management (“E&M”) services. 

Academy Submits Comments to CMS Regarding CY21 Medicare PFS

The Academy submitted comments to the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on October 4, 2020, in response to the proposed rule for the CY21 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS).  

The comments highlighted several provisions that would adversely impact practicing audiologists and the Medicare beneficiaries they treat.  

Congress Must Act to Halt Medicare Payment Cuts and Avoid Further Damage to the U.S. Health-Care System


August 17, 2020: A message from Paul Pessis, AuD


Practice Policy Advisory Committee Member


Close-up of of social security card and money

CODING AND REIMBURSEMENT | What Is the Social Security Number Removal Initiative and What Does It Mean to Audiologists?

Unfortunately, identity theft is something that we all need to think about these days. Medical identity theft is defined by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) as when someone steals personal information such as a name, a social security number, or a Medicare number and uses it to obtain medical care, purchase drugs, or submit fake claims to Medicare.

Topic(s): Coding, Reimbursement, Medicare, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

Author(s): 
Sandra Reams

Publication Issue: Audiology Today September/October 2017

2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Summary

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued for public inspection on August 4 the proposed rule on the 2021 PFS.

Catherine Palmer, Academy President photo

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE | Real Change for Our Profession

On Friday, March 20, 2020, the entire group of audiologists I work with at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) was taking care of patients in person. Three days later, Monday, March 23, 2020, we were providing all of our services remotely. 

We had been thinking about expanding into telehealth over the past year, but we had all sorts of reasons why it wouldn’t, couldn’t, and shouldn’t work. And then one day, it had to work or we wouldn’t have been able to take care of our patients. 

Topic(s): President's Message, audiology, Telehealth, tele-audiology, teleaudiology, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), CARES Act, Medicare, cochlear implant codes, Cochlear Implants (CI)

Author(s): 
Catherine V. Palmer

Publication Issue: Audiology Today July/August 2020

Warren and  Rice Lead Letter to House and Senate Urging Inclusion of Medicare Audiologist Access and Services Act in Upcoming COVID-19 Packages

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Representative Tom Rice (R-SC) led a letter along with Congressman Matt Cartwright (D-PA), Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), Senator Krysten Sinema (D-AZ), Congressman Darren Soto (D-FL), Congressman Gus Bilirakis and Congressman Rodney Davis (R-IL) to House and Senate leadership urging them to include provisions of the Medicare Audiologist Access and Services Act (H.R.4056/S.2446) in upcoming COVID-19 packages to enable vulnerable seniors to readily access critical hearing and balance healthcare services and allow audiologists to be better deployed to provide th

Executive Order Directs Federal Agencies to Recommend COVID-19 Regulatory Waivers 

President Trump signed a new executive order that directs federal agencies to identify and recommend COVID-19 regulatory waivers that should be made permanent. 

CMS has issued numerous waivers and multiple rules to ease regulatory burdens on the health sector during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The newly signed executive order asks federal agencies to look at the waivers they have made and determine “which, if any, would promote economic recovery if made permanent.”