Question
When testing an infant (with VRA) or a child (with conditioning play), is it appropriate to use separate codes for speech awareness/threshold testing (92555) and tonal testing (92582 and 92579)? Do VRA and CPA codes include speech testing or tone testing only?
Answer
Editor's note 3/24/2011: It has come to our attention that due to changes in coding and billing since this item was originally published, the information it contains is no longer current. We are working on obtaining an updated answer to this question. Check back at www.audiologyonline.com/askexpert/ for further updates.
It is appropriate to use the VRA and/or the CPA codes with 92555 if the results were obtained using VRA or CPA techniques. It is especially important to use both codes if more than one audiologist was used to obtain those results. VRA (92579) and CPA (92582) codes describe the method of how the results were obtained, while 92555 is the actual procedure. They can then be billed in tandem.
Debbie Abel, Au.D., is the former chair of the Coding and Practice Management Committee for the American Academy of Audiology and a former member of the AAA Ethical Practices Board. She currently is serving her first year of her term on the American Academy of Audiology and is the board liaison to the CPMC. She's been in private practice for 13 years in Alliance, OH.
Debbie Abel, AuD
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