Otolaryngology Coding Alert

Question: Is analysis/programming of a cochlear implant included in 69930, or can we report this service separately during the global period?


Washington Subscriber

Answer: When a patient receives a cochlear implant, the audiologist must initially program the speech-generating device and then periodically adjust it. Analysis and programming of a cochlear implant is not included in 69930 (Cochlear device implantation, with or without mastoidectomy), and you can report the service separately, even during 69930's 90-day global period.

Initial programming usually occurs a month or so after the implant. Follow-up adjustments may occur a dozen times or more in the first year, followed by only four adjustments in subsequent years, depending on the patient.

When your audiologist provides diagnostic analysis for a patient who is younger than 7 years of age, you should report 92601 (Diagnostic analysis of cochlear implant, patient under 7 years of age; with programming) for the initial stimulation and 92602 (... subsequent reprogramming) for the follow-up programming.

For patients age 7 or older, you should bill 92603 (Diagnostic analysis of cochlear implant, patient 7 years of age or older; with programming) for initial stimulation and 92604 (... subsequent reprogramming) for follow-up programming.