Physician Supervision Requirements for Vestibular and Audiologic Function Tests

There are no physician supervision requirements for vestibular and audiologic function tests (CPT codes 92541-92589) as payable under the Medicare physician fee schedule when these services are personally furnished by a qualified audiologist. Qualified audiologists are those that meet Medicare's qualifications under Section 1861(ll) of the Social Security Act. In cases where such services are not furnished by qualified audiologists, Medicare requires "general supervision" by a physician, meaning that the procedure is furnished under the overall direction of a physician but the physician need not be present in the office suite during the performance of the procedure.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) policy in a Program Memorandum (PM) to Medicare Carriers as Transmittal B-01-28: Physician Supervision of Diagnostic Tests (dated April 27, 2001) establishing revised levels of physician supervision required for diagnostic tests payable under the Medicare Part B fee schedule; and results from final regulations published in the October 31, 1997 Federal Register that require physician supervision for Medicare-covered diagnostic tests set forth by Section 1861(s)(3) of the Social Security Act.

Copies of Program Memorandum B-01-28 are available on the CMS Web site [PDF]. For questions or additional information regarding Program Memorandum B-01-28, please contact Mark Kander, ASHA's Director of Health Care Regulatory Analysis, at 800-498-2071 ext. 4139 or via e-mail at mkander@asha.org.