New Speech-Language Pathology Treatment Codes Replacing 92507

Beginning January 1, 2027, Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) code 92507 will be replaced by a new family of 10 speech-language pathology treatment codes. The new codes describe individual treatment by clinical service and use a time-based structure consisting of a base and add-on codes.

The American Medical Association (AMA) CPT Editorial Panel approved the new CPT code family as part of the CPT code development process. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed Medicare relative value units and payment for the codes in the calendar year (CY) 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) proposed rule. Final Medicare values will be established in the CY 2027 MPFS final rule.

Learn more about the CPT code development and valuation process: Understanding the CPT® Process: How Codes Are Created and Valued.

At A Glance

On this page:

• What Is Changing?
• Why New Codes Were Needed
• How the New Code Family Is Structured
• Understanding the Time-Based Structure
• Reporting Treatment Codes
• Preparing for Implementation
• Additional Resources
• Questions

What Is Changing?

CPT code 92507 currently describes individual treatment of speech, language, voice, communication, and/or auditory processing disorders. Effective January 1, 2027, CPT code 92507 will be deleted and replaced by 10 codes that more specifically describe individual treatment in five clinical categories:

• treatment of fluency disorders;
• treatment of speech sound production disorders;
• treatment of language comprehension and expression disorders;
• treatment of combined speech sound production and language comprehension and expression disorders; and
• treatment of voice, upper airway dysfunction, and/or resonance disorders.

Each category includes a base code for the initial 30 minutes of direct, one-on-one patient contact and an add-on code for each additional 15 minutes. CPT code 92508 will remain available as a stand-alone, untimed code for group treatment of two or more individuals, subject to its revised CPT instructions.

Why New Codes Were Needed

The new code family allows clinicians to report treatment more specifically, reflects the evolution of speech-language pathology practice, and provides greater flexibility by recognizing differences in treatment time and service complexity. Clinical practice, research, technology, service delivery, and the populations served have evolved substantially since the creation of CPT code 92507 several decades ago. One broad, untimed code no longer provides the level of specificity expected under current CPT coding standards.

In 2024, CMS and the AMA identified a substantial increase in Medicare billing for CPT code 92507 through a high-volume growth screen. This triggered a review of the code through the AMA CPT and RUC processes. ASHA worked with practicing clinicians, subject matter experts, and the AMA to develop a code structure that reflects contemporary speech-language pathology practice and complies with CPT coding conventions. For more details on the process that led to these changes, see Update on CPT Code 92507: Valuation Review Underway.

The new codes are intended to:

• describe the clinical service being provided more precisely;
• recognize variation in the time required to provide different types of treatment;
• better represent differences in patient needs and service complexity;
• provide payers with clearer information about the services reported; and
• ensure patients have a better understanding of their clinical condition and associated treatment.

For a detailed explanation of how CPT codes are created and valued, see Understanding the CPT Process: How Codes Are Created and Valued and How A CPT Code Becomes A Code [PDF].

How the New Code Family Is Structured

The new CPT codes replacing CPT code 92507 are structured to describe the following treatment services:

The following sections include the placeholder code numbers and full CPT descriptors for the new code family. Official code numbers will be published in the 2027 CPT code set, expected in September or October 2026.

Clinicians should select the code that most accurately describes the disorder or condition being treated, the services provided, and the amount of direct, one-on-one patient contact during the session.

Treatment of Fluency Disorders (92X0X and 92X1X)

These codes describe the treatment of fluency disorders, such as stuttering and cluttering.

Treatment of Speech Sound Production Disorders (92X2X and 92X3X)

These codes describe the treatment of speech sound production disorders, including articulation and phonological disorders, apraxia, and dysarthria.

When treatment addresses both a speech sound production disorder and a language comprehension and expression disorder, report the combined codes 92X6X and 92X7X instead. The speech sound production codes should not be reported with the separate language codes or the combined speech and language codes.

Treatment of Language Comprehension and Expression Disorders (92X4X and 92X5X)

These codes describe the treatment of language comprehension and expression disorders, including receptive and expressive language disorders associated with conditions such as aphasia, traumatic brain injury, neurologic disease, late language emergence, and cerebrovascular accident.

When treatment addresses both a language comprehension and expression disorder and a speech sound production disorder, report the combined codes 92X6X and 92X7X instead. The language codes should not be reported with the separate speech sound production codes or the combined speech and language codes.

Treatment of Speech Sound Production and Language Comprehension and Expression Disorders (92X6X and 92X7X)

These codes describe treatment that addresses both a speech sound production disorder and a language comprehension and expression disorder during the same session.

For example, these codes may be appropriate when treating a child with articulation and language disorders or an adult with dysarthria and aphasia. They should not be reported with the separate speech sound production codes 92X2X and 92X3X or the separate language codes 92X4X and 92X5X.

Treatment of Voice, Upper Airway Dysfunction, and/or Resonance Disorders (92X8X and 92X9X)

These codes describe treatment of voice, upper airway dysfunction, and/or resonance disorders associated with structural, neurologic, or functional conditions. Examples may include dysphonia associated with vocal nodules, spasmodic dysphonia, vocal tremor, vocal fold paralysis, and inducible laryngeal obstruction.

Group Treatment Code

CPT code 92508 has been revised as a stand-alone code for group treatment of speech, language, voice, communication, and/or auditory processing disorders involving two or more individuals.

Understanding the Time-Based Structure

The new individual treatment codes are based on direct, one-on-one patient contact time. The base code describes the initial 30 minutes, and the associated add-on code describes each additional 15 minutes. The add-on code may never be reported by itself and must be reported only with its designated base code.

Under the general CPT midpoint convention, clinicians may typically report the base code after they provide 16 minutes of the described service. Clinicians may typically report the first add-on unit after they provide the full 30-minute base period plus at least eight additional minutes. However, CPT instructions, CMS rules, and payer policies may establish different requirements. Providers must review the final CPT instructions and each payer’s billing policy before reporting the codes.

For a complete explanation, see Understanding Timed and Untimed CPT Codes.

The following table summarizes the general CPT minimum time threshold for the new treatment codes.

Reporting Treatment Codes

The following table and example illustrate how the new speech-language pathology treatment codes are generally reported based on the total direct treatment time provided during a single encounter when the CPT midpoint rule applies. Clinicians should always verify payer-specific billing requirements.

Example

A speech-language pathologist (SLP) provides 55 minutes of direct, one-on-one treatment for a patient with a language comprehension and expression disorder.

Coding:

• 92X4X × 1 (initial 30 minutes)
• 92X5X × 2 (each additional 15 minutes)

Why?

• The first 30 minutes are reported with the base code (92X4X).
• The next 15 minutes are reported with the first unit of the add-on code (92X5X).
• After the full 45 minutes have been completed (30-minute base code + one full 15-minute add-on), the remaining 10 minutes exceed the midpoint of the next 15-minute interval. Therefore, a second unit of the add-on code may be reported.

If the same treatment session lasted 48 minutes instead, the clinician would report:

• 92X4X × 1
• 92X5X × 1

The additional 3 minutes beyond the first add-on code would not meet the midpoint required to report a second add-on unit.

Reporting Multiple Services on the Same Day

More than one treatment code from the new family may be reported on the same date of service when each service is distinct, medically necessary, and independently meets its time requirement. Each add-on code must be reported with its corresponding base code, and the same treatment time cannot be counted toward more than one service.

For example, if an SLP provides both speech sound production treatment and voice treatment, the documentation should clearly identify the services provided, goals addressed, and time spent on each service.

The new codes may also be reported with other timed or untimed codes outside this family, such as codes for swallowing-related services, when all requirements are met and the documentation supports that the services were separate and distinct.

Do not report the separate speech sound production and language codes together. When both areas are treated, use the combined speech and language code instead. Likewise, do not report the combined code with the separate speech or language codes.

Payer-specific coding edits, including NCCI and MUE requirements (which should be announced during the last quarter of 2026), may also affect same-day reporting. See Understanding Timed and Untimed CPT Codes for additional guidance.

Preparing for Implementation

Before January 1, 2027, practices should:

• Review the new code descriptors and CPT instructions.
• Train clinical, coding, billing, and administrative staff on code selection and time reporting.
• Update electronic health record, practice management, billing, and chargemaster systems.
• Review documentation templates to ensure that the clinical service and direct treatment time are clearly recorded.
• Contact Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, commercial, and other payers to confirm adoption, coverage, authorization, billing, and payment policies.
• Review contracts and fee schedules to understand how the new codes will be priced.
• Communicate with referral sources and patients when payer implementation may affect authorizations or benefits.
• Monitor ASHA updates following publication of the 2027 CPT codes by the AMA and the CY 2027 MPFS final rule.

Payer Implementation

Although the new code family becomes effective January 1, 2027, implementation may vary by payer. State Medicaid programs and commercial health plans may adopt the new codes on different timelines or establish their own coverage, payment, and billing policies. Some payers may continue to recognize CPT code 92507 until they update their fee schedules, coverage policies, and claims-processing systems.

Before reporting the new codes, SLPs should verify each payer’s requirements, including:

• when the new codes become effective;
• coverage and prior authorization requirements;
• billing and documentation expectations; and
• payment rates and fee schedules.

Additional Resources

Learn About the New Codes

Start with the recorded webinar for an overview of the CPT code development process and the new treatment codes. Then watch the recorded live Q&A to hear experts answer questions submitted by members.

• Recorded Webinar 1: Understanding the CPT Process and Introduction to the New Speech-Language Pathology CPT Codes
• Recorded Live Q&A 1: Member Questions and Answers About the New Speech-Language Pathology CPT Codes 

Billing and Coding

• Understanding Timed and Untimed CPT Codes
• Medicare Coding Rules for Speech-Language Pathology Services
• National Correct Coding Initiative
• Medically Unlikely Edits for Speech-Language Pathology Services

Background and Advocacy

• Understanding the CPT Process: How Codes Are Created and Valued
• CMS Proposes Medicare Values for New Speech-Language Pathology Treatment Codes
• Update on CPT Code 92507: Valuation Review Underway (historical background)

Future Resources

• Payer Education Letter (coming soon)
• Provider Template Letter (coming soon)
• Payer Implementation Updates (coming soon)

Questions?

To stay informed about future developments, follow ASHA Advocacy News and subscribe to receive the ASHA Advocate newsletter.

For questions, contact ASHA’s health care education and policy team at reimbursement@asha.org.