Ask The Experts

Testing a Hearing Aid for Music

Paul Dybala

November 5, 2007

I have heard that the font end limiter or input limiter of a hearing aid set too low by the hearing aid manufacturer can result in music being clipped due to its higher dynamic range compared to music...   Read More

Hearing Aids - Adults

Method Codes and Billing for Pediatric Evaluations

Robert C. Fifer, PhD

November 5, 2007

Can you talk about method codes?   Read More

Practice Management and Professional Issues

Variation in Medicaid Benefits from State to State

Robert C. Fifer, PhD

October 29, 2007

Why is it that the New York State Medicaid Department will not cover the cost of ENG testing as performed by a licensed and certified audiologist? Medicaid is usually the secondary payer anyway for ma...   Read More

Practice Management and Professional Issues

Starkey Troubleshooting Solutions - Destiny Fading

Debra Cowley, MA, FAAA

October 29, 2007

What should I do if a patient complains that their Destiny hearing aids are 'fading', 'cutting out' or 'shutting down'?   Read More

Hearing Aids - Adults

Open Hearing Aid Fittings for Small Children

Marlene Bagatto, AuD

October 22, 2007

Is there any reason why I should not fit an open hearing aid on an infant or young child with normal hearing through 2000 Hz? I know that the miniature aids that are used for open fittings do not have...   Read More

Hearing Aids - Children Pediatrics

CPT Codes - Technical and Professional Components

Robert C. Fifer, PhD

October 22, 2007

I work in an outpatient hospital setting. Which of our audiology diagnostic CPT Codes can be broken down into and billed individually as technical and professional components?   Read More

Practice Management and Professional Issues

What is the Correct Way to Bill for Binaural Hearing Aids?

Debbie Abel, AuD

October 15, 2007

What is the correct way to bill for binaural hearing aids? Our claims have been processed as 1 unit when we use a binaural code such as V5261, even when we bill as 2 units. Can we bill a V5257 with a...   Read More

Hearing Aids - Adults Practice Management and Professional Issues

Medicare and the Otogram

Robert C. Fifer, PhD

October 15, 2007

What's Medicare and other insurance companies doing about the Otogram?   Read More

Practice Management and Professional Issues

The GY, GA, and GZ Modifiers for Medicare

Robert C. Fifer, PhD

October 8, 2007

What is the qualifier, when filing Medicare for hearing aids, to get a rejection so the secondary coverage can pay it?   Read More

Evidence Based Practice Reviews

Paul Dybala

October 8, 2007

In regard to systematic reviews for Evidence-Based Practice (EBP), is there a recommended search engine or database to find these reviews?   Read More

Practice Management and Professional Issues

Private Labeling of Hearing Aids

Kathy Foltner

October 1, 2007

I was looking at the option of using a private label service for the hearing aids I dispense. From a marketing standpoint, does this really make sense? Or is it better to leave the "well known" brand...   Read More

Practice Management and Professional Issues Hearing Aids - Adults

Blue Cross Blue Shield

Robert C. Fifer, PhD

October 1, 2007

We seem to have a multitude of billing problems with Blue Cross Blue Shield. The latest is the Medicare Advantage program in Michigan.   Read More

Practice Management and Professional Issues

Billing as an Au.D.

Robert C. Fifer, PhD

September 24, 2007

Can an audiologist with an Au.D. bill differently than a non-Au.D. audiologist, to improve or increase reimbursement?   Read More

Practice Management and Professional Issues

Asymmetrical Low Frequency Hearing Loss and Acoustic Neuroma

Tina Prout, PhD

September 24, 2007

I have a patient that presents with asymmetrical low frequency (250-1000 Hz) sensorineural hearing loss with symmetrical high frequencies. Is there a possibility this patient could have an acoustic ne...   Read More

Medical and Surgical Electrophysiology Hearing and Hearing Loss

Performing Electrical ABRs Post-Cochlear Implantation

Shannon White, AuD, FAAA

September 17, 2007

I work with patients who have cochlear implants. The physician with whom I work wants to begin performing Electrical ABRs post-implantation. How do I use my evoked potential system for EABR testing?   Read More

Electrophysiology Cochlear Implants

Billing for attending IEP meetings

Robert C. Fifer, PhD

September 17, 2007

Is there any way to bill for attending school-based IEP meetings, providing in-services to preschool teachers as well as functional listening evaluations?   Read More

Practice Management and Professional Issues

Sensitivity of VEMP to Detect Endolymphatic Hydrops

R. Steven Ackley, PhD, CCC-A, FAAA

September 10, 2007

Can you define the differences in sensitivity of procedures such as the Cochlear Hydrops Analysis Masking Procedure (CHAMP) and the VEMP in identifying endolymphatic hydrops versus cochlear hydrops?   Read More

Vestibular Issues and Balance Disorders Electrophysiology Hearing and Hearing Loss Medical and Surgical

NPI Numbers and Medicare

Robert C. Fifer, PhD

September 10, 2007

Now that we have the NPI number, do we stop using Medicare and Medicaid numbers?   Read More

Practice Management and Professional Issues

Billing for OAEs

Robert C. Fifer, PhD

September 3, 2007

I have some confusion regarding the correct way to bill for OAE testing, comprehensive or unlimited?   Read More

Billing for pediatric ABRs

Robert C. Fifer, PhD

August 27, 2007

I work at a hospital where we do ABR for the purpose of identifying hearing loss in babies and young children. We often complete several ABRs, i.e. click, bone conduction, and tone burst ABR at severa...   Read More

Practice Management and Professional Issues