New Hearing Device Services Codes: Modernizing Audiologic Services
Starting in January 2026, a new set of Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) codes will be available to describe the professional services provided by audiologists for hearing device-related services. These new codes are reflective of today’s audiology service delivery models and will replace the longstanding CPT code set for hearing aid services.
On this page:
- Why New Codes Were Needed
- Development Process
- Overview of the New Code Structure
- Valuation of the New CPT Codes
- Implementation & Resources
- Questions?
Why New Codes Were Needed
The legacy codes (92590–92595) were created more than three decades ago in 1993. At that time, hearing device technology and related audiological services were very different. The way that hearing aids convert speech and other sound input into meaningful information has transitioned from an analog process to a digital process. The way that audiologists assess hearing sensitivity and speech understanding—as well as the methods of verifying potential amplification solutions—has also become more advanced.
The American Medical Association’s (AMA) philosophy on CPT code language modernization supports updating codes to reflect current practice patterns and technology. Audiologists today perform far more comprehensive hearing device services than they did three decades ago. These new codes were designed to capture the professional services audiologists provide for hearing aids and other hearing devices today and into the future—including evolving technologies and patient care models.
The Legacy Codes...
- Lack Specificity: Terms in the older code set like "examination" and "check" are vague and no longer aligned with current clinical protocols.
- Do Not Reflect Technological Advancement: Since the original codes were established, hearing devices have undergone significant advancements, shifting from analog to sophisticated digital devices with programmable features and complex verification requirements.
- Do Not Capture the Professional Scope: The existing codes failed to reflect the professional expertise required in candidacy evaluation, device selection, fitting, and post-fitting care.
- Do Not Reflect Advanced Testing Capabilities: Today’s audiologists use more advanced probe-microphone and hearing instrument test (HIT) measurements, which had no representation in the old code set.
- Do Not Align With Modern Standards: Clinical practices have evolved substantially, but procedural codes have not kept pace—hindering accurate reimbursement and recognition of services.
Development Process
ASHA collaborated with the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) on this multiyear process to develop the new CPT codes. The process was designed to ensure that the codes reflect current clinical practice patterns and technology, support the profession’s long-term sustainability, and align with the AMA’s CPT coding conventions.
The codes were developed by practicing audiologists and reflect real-life clinical work. The goal was to provide a clearer picture of services to third-party payers to make it easier to “unbundle” services—meaning each part of care can be billed separately and support varied service delivery models.
These changes apply to CPT codes only and do not affect the V codes used under the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Level II codes for hearing aid devices.
Overview of the New Code Structure
The new code set replaces the six longstanding codes (92590–92595) with 12 new codes that better describe the complete process and the full continuum of hearing device care—from evaluating candidacy to selecting and fitting the appropriate device while ensuring optimal, sustained performance.
These new codes primarily describe the audiological services related to air conduction hearing devices. Codes describing services related to implantable devices such as auditory osseointegrated devices and cochlear implants remain as they were previously described elsewhere in the CPT code set.
Code Transition
-
- Old Codes: 92590–92595
- New Codes: 12 new CPT codes primarily for air conduction hearing device services (92628-92642)
Many of the new codes are time-based codes, acknowledging the variations in complexity due to patient-related factors such as age, type of hearing loss, and cognitive considerations. The use of time-based codes provides a more accurate reflection of the service intensity involved. For a full list of the new codes and how to use them, see Audiology CPT and HCPCS Code Changes for 2026 and Coding and Billing for Hearing Device-Related Services.
Service Categories
- Candidacy Evaluation & Hearing Device Selection (Codes 92628-92632)
- Candidacy evaluation codes (92628–92629) cover assessing whether a patient is an appropriate candidate for hearing aids through review of audiologic data, additional testing, and counseling (with or without same-day amplification), while selection codes (92631–92632) cover choosing and prescribing a specific hearing device based on audiologic findings and patient-specific needs when the patient elects to proceed.
- Fitting and Follow-Up (92634-92637)
- Hearing aid fitting codes (92634–92635) cover the initial encounter for programming, verifying, and orienting the patient to new hearing aids, while post-fitting follow-up codes (92636–92637) cover subsequent visits for verification, adjustment, validation of benefit, and counseling provided on a different date after the fitting.
- Verification and Assistive Device Services (92638-92642)
- Verification codes (92638, 92639, 92641) describe objective methods—behavioral, probe-microphone, and electroacoustic analysis—used to confirm hearing aid or assistive device performance and benefit and may be reported in addition to fitting or post-fitting services, while the assistive device fitting code (92642) covers the fitting and verification of hearing assistive supplemental technologies such as FM/DM systems.
Valuation of the New CPT Codes
Currently, hearing devices and related audiological services are statutorily excluded from Medicare coverage, so these devices and services are not reimbursable through Medicare. For this reason, the newly established hearing device services CPT codes do not have assigned relative value units (RVUs), as they did not undergo review by the AMA Relative Value Update Committee (AMA RUC) and are not priced under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. As a result, these codes fall outside of Medicare’s reimbursement framework, giving audiologists greater flexibility to negotiate payment rates directly with commercial payers, employers, or patients. The absence of a Medicare-assigned RVU allows for more customized and market-driven payment arrangements that more accurately reflect the value of professional hearing device services in today’s clinical environment.
Implementation & Resources
The new hearing device services CPT code set takes effect January 1, 2026. To help audiologists and practices prepare, ASHA will continue to develop educational resources focused on understanding, implementing, and billing under the new codes.
Free On-Demand Webinars
Jointly hosted by ASHA and the American Academy of Audiology (AAA), "Navigating the Shift: Understanding the New Hearing Device Services CPT Codes" session walks you through the new code set, rationale for the changes, and practical strategies for billing, documentation, and payer communication.
In addition, ASHA is providing a series of webinars that provide more in-depth discussions of coding and billing tips and integrating the new codes into your practice. You can view the session recordings as they become available:
- 2026 Hearing Device Services Codes: 101
- 2026 Hearing Device Services Codes: 102 (coming soon)
Coding and Billing Tools
Additional resources are available to support implementation of the new codes.
- Audiology CPT and HCPCS Code Changes for 2026
- Coding and Billing for Hearing Device-Related Services
- Hearing Device Services Codes Crosswalk [PDF]
Payer Education
Payer education remains an important part of successful implementation. ASHA has sent letters to multiple payers explaining the new codes and encouraging adoption.
- View ASHA's payer letters [PDF]
- Use the provider provider template letter [DOCX] to contact payers directly
Questions?
Contact reimbursement@asha.org
See also: Proposed Medicare Fee Schedule Introduces New Codes for Hearing Device Services
