Audiologists
What they do most for Medicare patients
| Service, sort | Times billed, sort |
|---|---|
| Comprehensive hearing and speech recognition test | 972,002 |
| Test to assess middle ear function | 704,732 |
| Test for eardrum and muscle function | 129,663 |
| Placement of ear probe for computerized measurement of repeated sounds with interpretation and report | 53,804 |
| Test for hearing various pitches using earphone | 49,558 |
| Test for ability to detect and repeat spoken words with speech recognition | 37,756 |
| Evaluation and testing for balance with recording | 25,476 |
| Analysis and reprogramming of inner ear implant (7 years or older) | 19,702 |
| Test to assess balance during warm and cool irrigation in both ears | 18,316 |
| Comprehensive hearing test | 17,310 |
| Placement of ear probe for computerized measurement of sound with interpretation and report | 17,290 |
| Test for hearing various pitches using earphone and device placed against the bone | 14,474 |
| Evaluation of hearing function related to surgically implanted hearing device, first hour | 13,344 |
| Test for abnormal eye movement using a rotating chair | 11,474 |
| Test for ability to detect and repeat spoken words | 7,760 |
| Test for abnormal eye movement using 3 positions with recording | 6,730 |
| Test for abnormal eye movement with recording | 6,334 |
| Use of electrodes during balance testing | 6,177 |
| Continuous monitoring of nervous system during operation, each 15 minutes | 5,810 |
| Continuous intraoperative neurophysiology monitoring, from outside the operating room (remote or nearby), per patient, (attention directed exclusively to one patient) each 15 minutes (list in addition to primary procedure) | 5,425 |
| Evaluation of brain response to sound for diagnosis of nervous system disorders with interpretation and report | 5,360 |
| Therapy procedure using sensory experiences | 5,171 |
| Test to assess by hearing by examining the repetition of real words versus nonsense words | 5,126 |
| Evaluation of hearing ringing in ear | 5,030 |
| Test to assess defects in adaption to sounds | 4,987 |
| Test to assess electrical potentials generated in the inner ear as a result of sound stimulation | 4,261 |
| Repositioning exercises of head for treatment of dizziness, each day | 4,050 |
| Exam of ear using a microscope | 3,570 |
| Test for abnormal eye movement using a moving target that moves back and forth with recording | 3,254 |
| Vemp testing of lower branch of inner ear nerve with interpretation and report | 3,232 |
| Therapy procedure using functional activities | 2,555 |
| Therapy procedure to re-educate brain-to-nerve-to-muscle function, each 15 minutes | 2,375 |
| Evaluation of hearing function related to surgically implanted hearing device, each additional 15 minutes | 2,361 |
| Test for abnormal eye movement using a moving target with recording | 2,318 |
| Test for balance and posture | 2,241 |
| Test to assess balance during warm or cool irrigation in both ears | 2,232 |
| Test for balance and posture with motor control and adaption test | 2,171 |
| Vemp testing of upper and lower branches of inner ear nerve with interpretation and report | 2,138 |
| Test to detect loudness differences | 1,623 |
| Other procedure on ear, nose, or throat | 1,380 |
| Removal of impacted ear wax | 1,361 |
| Evaluation of brain response to sound for determination of hearing threshold with interpretation and report | 1,355 |
| Placement of skin electrodes and measurement of stimulated sites on arms and legs | 1,152 |
| Established patient office or other outpatient visit, 20-29 minutes | 1,072 |
| Test to assess hearing loss using different tone pitches | 964 |
| Evaluation of hearing function brain responses, first hour | 934 |
| Testing of nerve-muscle junction | 879 |
| Analysis and programming of inner ear implant (7 years or older) | 876 |
| Test to assess hearing loss | 771 |
| Placement of skin electrodes and measurement of central motor stimulation in arms and legs | 755 |
| Test to assess hearing loss using grammatically incorrect sentences | 754 |
| Test to assess hearing sensitivity using visual aids | 683 |
| Test to assess hearing using 2 syllable words | 535 |
| Needle measurement of electrical activity in arm or leg muscles, complete study | 455 |
| Needle measurement of electrical activity in arm or leg muscles, 2 extremities | 452 |
| Test to assess middle ear muscle reflex | 348 |
| Diagnostic exam of voice box using a flexible endoscope | 328 |
| Treatment of speech, language, voice, communication, and/or hearing processing disorder | 303 |
| New patient office or other outpatient visit, 45-59 minutes | 297 |
| Needle measurement of electrical activity in arm or leg muscles, limited study | 294 |
| Telephone medical discussion provided by nonphysician professional, 21-30 minutes | 283 |
| Measurement of brain wave activity (eeg), 61-119 minutes | 278 |
| Measurement of brain wave activity (eeg) outside the brain during surgery | 272 |
| New patient office or other outpatient visit, 30-44 minutes | 241 |
| Established patient office or other outpatient visit, 10-19 minutes | 217 |
| Test to assess the loss of the ability to speak, write, and understand language | 213 |
| Nerve conduction, 3-4 studies | 203 |
| Measurement of nerve conduction using visual stimulation testing with report | 179 |
| Evaluation of brain response to sound for determination of hearing status with interpretation and report | 172 |
| Telephone medical discussion provided by nonphysician professional, 11-20 minutes | 152 |
| Vemp testing of upper branch of inner ear nerve with interpretation and report | 132 |
| Test or measurement for functional capacity, each 15 minutes | 127 |
| Assessment of emotional or behavioral problems | 102 |
| Removal of impacted cerumen (one or both ears) by physician on same date of service as audiologic function testing | 96 |
| Analysis of voice and resonance production | 91 |
| Established patient office or other outpatient visit, 30-39 minutes | 88 |
| Nerve conduction, 5-6 studies | 82 |
| Nerve conduction, 13 or more studies | 72 |
| Online digital evaluation and management service provided by nonphysician professional for up to 7 days, total time 21 minutes or more | 62 |
| Exam of nasal passage and sinus using an endoscope | 60 |
| Nerve conduction, 7-8 studies | 53 |
| Assessment of health behavior | 51 |
| Needle measurement of electrical activity in muscles on both sides of body | 47 |
| Nerve conduction, 1-2 studies | 44 |
| Study of voice box function | 42 |
| Diagnostic exam of nasal passages using an endoscope | 36 |
| Measurement of brain wave activity (eeg), in coma or asleep | 34 |
| Placement of skin electrodes and measurement of stimulated sites in legs | 27 |
| Test to assess hearing loss using 2 simultaneous words at different tones in same ear | 24 |
| Needle measurement and recording of electrical activity of muscles at bladder and bowel openings | 23 |
| Needle measurement of electrical activity in arm or leg muscles, 4 extremities | 23 |
| Repair of prosthetic device, repair or replace minor parts | 20 |
| Incision of eardrum with insertion of eardrum tube under local or topical anesthesia | 19 |
| Exam to assess movement of vocal cord flaps using an endoscope | 18 |
| Test to assess hearing sensitivity using activity related feedback | 17 |
| Evaluation of speech sound production with evaluation of language comprehension and expression | 17 |
| Cochlear implant, external speech processor and controller, integrated system, replacement | 16 |
| Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of established patient that may not require presence of healthcare professional | 15 |
| Nerve conduction, 9-10 studies | 13 |
| Placement of skin electrodes and measurement of stimulated sites in arms | 12 |
Sources: Medicare Care Compare (hospitals and schools; Medicare-enrolled clinicians), CMS Medicare Physician & Other Practitioners 2023 (services), Medicare Part D Prescribers 2024 (drugs).