Audiologist and Hearing Aid Dispenser

The Request for Prior Authorization, form 470-0829, should be submitted with:

♦ Examiner Report of Need for a Hearing Aid, form 470-4767 

♦ Results of hearing tests 

♦ Member history and diagnosis 

♦ Date of purchase of the current hearing aid, if known, or the approximate age of the hearing aid 

♦ Whether the aid is covered under warranty, if less than one year old 

♦ Reason for replacement

Payment will be approved for a monaural aid costing more than $650 and for binaural aids costing more than $1,300 for either of the following:

♦ Educational purposes when the member is participating in primary or secondary education or an academic program leading to a degree, and either:

• An in-office comparison of an analog aid and a digital aid matched (+/- 5dB) for gain and output shows a significant improvement in either speech recognition in quiet or speech recognition in noise 

• An in-office comparison of two aids, one of which is singlechannel, shows significantly improved audibility

♦ Vocational purposes when documentation submitted indicates the necessity such as varying amounts of background noise in the work environment and a need to converse in order to do the job, and either:

• An in-office comparison of an analog aid and a digital aid matched (+- 5 dB) for gain and output shows a significant improvement in either speech recognition in quiet or speech recognition in noise 

• An in-office comparison of two aids, one of which is singlechannel, shows significantly improved audibility

The following hearing aid services are covered when provided by audiologists or hearing aid dispensers.

f. Repair

Repair of hearing aids resulting from conditions not covered under the manufacturer’s warranty are covered.

(1) Parts and Labor

♦ In-house repairs are reimbursed at the current fee schedule amount. The U5 modifier must be billed with V5014 for in-house repairs.

♦ Out-of-house repairs are reimbursed at the amount shown on the manufacturer’s invoice plus a service charge, when applicable.

(2) Service Charge

Payment is allowed for a service charge in addition to the charge for parts and labor for out-of-house repairs if it is the provider’s practice to make such a charge to the general public. Bill the usual, customary, and reasonable service charge. Procedure code V5014 should be billed.

When a service charge is billed, it is considered to include all service functions performed in connection with repair of the hearing aid, including necessary travel, “loaners,” or any other service or supplies. Therefore, no additional charge may be made to the member or to others.

g. Replacement of Hearing Aids

Prior authorization is required for replacement of a hearing aid less than four years old, except when the member is a child under 21 years of age.

Adults requiring replacement of a hearing aid should have audiological tests reviewed by the physician or audiologist if the last evaluation is more than two years old. Children under 18 years of age should have an audiological test reviewed by the physician or audiologist before replacement of a hearing aid if the last evaluation is more than six months old.

h. Routine Maintenance

Routine maintenance is payable once every twelve months after the initial six month-service period.

Procedure Code            Description

 92592                            Monaural aid 

92593                             Binaural aids

Replacement of Hearing Aids

Prior authorization is required for replacement of a hearing aid less than four years old, except when the member is a child under 21 years of age.

Adults requiring replacement of a hearing aid should have audiological tests reviewed by the physician or audiologist if the last evaluation is more than two years old. Children under 18 years of age should have an audiological test reviewed by the physician or audiologist before replacement of a hearing aid if the last evaluation is more than six months old.

h. Routine Maintenance

Routine maintenance is payable once every twelve months after the initial six month-service period.

Procedure Code          Description 

92592                      Monaural aid 

92593                      Binaural aids

4. Interpreter Services

Interpretative services may be covered, whether done orally or through sign language. Interpreters must provide only interpretation services for the agency. The services must facilitate access to Medicaid covered services.

In order for interpretation services to be covered by Iowa Medicaid, the services must meet the following criteria:

♦ Provided by interpreters who provide only interpretive services 

♦ Interpreters may be employed or contracted by the billing provider 

♦ The interpretive services must facilitate access to Medicaid covered services 

Providers may only bill for these services if offered in conjunction with an otherwise Medicaid covered service. Medical staff that are bilingual are not reimbursed for the interpretation but only for their medical services.

a. Documentation of the Service

The billing provider must document in the member’s record the: 

♦ Interpreter’s name or company, 

♦ Date and time of the interpretation, 

♦ Service duration (time in and time out), and 

♦ Cost of providing the service.

b. Qualifications

It is the responsibility of the billing provider to determine the interpreter’s competency. Sign language interpreters should be licensed pursuant to 645 Iowa Administrative Code 361. Oral interpreters should be guided by the standards developed by the National Council on Interpreting in Health Care.

Following is the instruction for billing interpretive services when that service is provided by an outside commercial translation service:

♦ Bill code T1013

• For telephonic interpretive services use modifier “UC” to indicate that the payment should be made at a per-minute unit.

• The lack of the UC modifier will indicate that the charge is being made for the 15 minute face-to-face unit.

♦ Enter the number of minutes actually used for the provision of the service. The 15 minute unit should be rounded up if the service is provided for 8 minutes or more.

NOTE: Because the same code is being used but a conditional modifier may be necessary, any claim where the UC modifier is NOT used and the units exceed 24 will be paid at 24 units.