Question
PART I I am looking for a CPT code for Universal Newborn Hearing screens that we are now doing on all newborns in our hospital. Can you help me?
Answer
The CPT codes to use for infant hearing screening are: 92586 Auditory evoked potentials, limited, or 92587 Evoked acoustic emission, limited.
PART II I am an employee of an ENT who recently went to a ''coding'' course and was told that audiologists should not be using the ''global'' code of 92585 for billing ABRs. It was stated that audiologists are not allowed to bill for the professional component of this code (only the technical component) and should therefore be billing it with the TC modifier. I have always done the testing and the interpretation and received reimbursement for both, from Medicare, by using the 92585 code.
Audiologists in independent practice can only bill Medicare for the technical component (TC) of ABRs. However, if the audiologist is in a physician's office, global billing is appropriate when the physician is involved with the patient's care. This billing differentiation is due to the structure of the Medicare physician fee schedule where only physicians (as defined in the Medicare statute) can be reimbursed for the work RVU.
Steven C. White, Ph.D. Director Health Care Economics and Advocacy American Speech-Language-Hearing Association phone 301-897-0126 fax 301-897-7356
Steven C. White, PhD, CCC-A
Director of the Health Care Economics and Advocacy at the ASHA National Office.
Steven C. White, PhD, CCC-A, is the Director of the Health Care Economics and Advocacy at the ASHA National Office. White, an ASHA Fellow, is ex officio to the Health Care Economics Committee. His responsibilities include Medicare, private health insurance and Medicaid especially coding and outpatient reimbursement policies as they relate to these payers. White is the staff liaison to the American Medical Association Current Procedural Terminology Editorial Panel and the AMA Relative Value Update Committee. He has published and presented extensively on third party reimbursement. White is co-author with Janet McCarty of Health Plan Coding and Claims Guide (2005), Negotiating Health Care Contracts and Calculating Fees (2004), Appealing Health Plan Denials, and Getting Your Services Covered. White is also coauthor with Ingrida Lusis and Mark Kander of the Medicare Handbook for Audiologists (2005). White holds a PhD in audiology from Wayne State University and an MS in speech-language pathology and audiology from Ithaca College.
Related Courses
1https://www.audiologyonline.com/audiology-ceus/course/understanding-privilege-for-healthcare-professionals-36096Understanding Privilege, for Healthcare ProfessionalsSystems of privilege have created a wide division of inequality. This course will help hearing care professionals identify their privilege and determine how to make a difference in their places of employment.auditory, textual, visual
Systems of privilege have created a wide division of inequality. This course will help hearing care professionals identify their privilege and determine how to make a difference in their places of employment.
2https://www.audiologyonline.com/audiology-ceus/course/creating-leadership-in-audiology-through-37632Creating Leadership in Audiology Through a Mentoring CircleThere are so many components to quality patient care that it is challenging to “master” them all. What if you could come together with other professionals who possess knowledge or experience that could help you or your practice? There are a number of veteran audiologists as well as rising professionals who have wisdom, qualifications, narratives, and unique journeys to share. The purpose of this talk is to rethink the traditional mentor/mentee vertical relationship and explore collaboration in the form of circle…where all professionals, regardless of age or experience, learn from each other.auditory, textual, visual
There are so many components to quality patient care that it is challenging to “master” them all. What if you could come together with other professionals who possess knowledge or experience that could help you or your practice? There are a number of veteran audiologists as well as rising professionals who have wisdom, qualifications, narratives, and unique journeys to share. The purpose of this talk is to rethink the traditional mentor/mentee vertical relationship and explore collaboration in the form of circle…where all professionals, regardless of age or experience, learn from each other.
3https://www.audiologyonline.com/audiology-ceus/course/using-patient-reported-outcome-measures-35841Using Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) to Improve Patient-Clinician Communication and Enhance Treatment EfficacyDue to the recent increased focus on providing patient-centered healthcare, use of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) have become an essential component of assessing whether the services provided improved patients’ health and sense of well-being. This course will discuss the role of PROMs in healthcare and how using these measures in clinical practice can enhance treatment efficacy, improve patient-clinician communication, and assist clinicians in providing better person-centered care.auditory, textual, visual
Due to the recent increased focus on providing patient-centered healthcare, use of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) have become an essential component of assessing whether the services provided improved patients’ health and sense of well-being. This course will discuss the role of PROMs in healthcare and how using these measures in clinical practice can enhance treatment efficacy, improve patient-clinician communication, and assist clinicians in providing better person-centered care.
4https://www.audiologyonline.com/audiology-ceus/course/salary-negotiations-32770Learn to Earn the Salary You Deserve: Negotiating Like a BossThe ability to negotiate your income displays immediate knowledge and confidence in your skillset and worth. In this course, we will examine a revenue and pay justification method to put into place as audiology business owners, employers, and employees.auditory, textual, visual
The ability to negotiate your income displays immediate knowledge and confidence in your skillset and worth. In this course, we will examine a revenue and pay justification method to put into place as audiology business owners, employers, and employees.
5https://www.audiologyonline.com/audiology-ceus/course/core-topics-for-audiology-assistants-37123Core Topics for Audiology AssistantsThis course includes one hour of content on each of the following topics: 1) ethical concepts and decision-making; 2) universal safety precautions, including the Occupational Safety & Health Administration's (OSHA) bloodborne pathogens standard, and 3) patient confidentiality and the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA).auditory, textual, visual
This course includes one hour of content on each of the following topics: 1) ethical concepts and decision-making; 2) universal safety precautions, including the Occupational Safety & Health Administration's (OSHA) bloodborne pathogens standard, and 3) patient confidentiality and the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA).
