CPT code 92593 – Hearing aid check, binaural (deleted 2026)

Key takeaways

CPT 92593 was “Hearing aid check; binaural,” a post-fitting check of both hearing aids, not an exam or fitting code.

The AMA deleted 92593 and the rest of the 92590–92595 family on January 1, 2026.

For 2026 dates of service, bill 92636 for the first 30 minutes of hearing aid follow-up and +92637 for each extra 15 minutes.

The new codes cover one or both ears, so the old monaural and binaural split no longer applies.

Traditional Medicare still excludes hearing aid services, and CMS kept all 12 new codes non-payable for 2026.

CPT code 92593: Definition and code description

CPT code 92593 was the code for a binaural hearing aid check, and the AMA deleted it on January 1, 2026. Its official descriptor read “Hearing aid check; binaural.” Binaural means the audiologist checked both of the patient’s hearing aids at the same visit.

A hearing aid check takes place after the fitting. The audiologist confirms the devices work as expected and makes adjustments when the patient needs them. 92593 was never the code for the exam and selection visit. That service belonged to 92590 for one ear and 92591 for both ears.

For a hearing aid check on or after January 1, 2026, bill 92636 for the first 30 minutes. Add +92637 for each additional 15 minutes.

CPT 92593 code details at a glance

Is CPT 92593 still valid? Code status and the 2026 deletion

No. CPT 92593 is not valid for dates of service on or after January 1, 2026. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) confirmed the deletion in its November 17, 2025 letter to insurance providers. The letter lists all six legacy hearing aid codes, 92590 through 92595, as deleted and replaced by 12 new CPT codes.

The date of service decides which code set applies. A binaural check performed in December 2025 still bills as 92593, even when the claim goes out in 2026. A check performed on or after January 1, 2026 bills under the new codes.

The new codes, 92628 through 92642, are built around four stages of hearing device care:

• Candidacy evaluation (92628, +92629)
• Device selection (92631, +92632)
• Fitting and follow-up (92634, +92635, 92636, +92637)
• Verification (+92638, +92639, 92641, 92642)

What to bill instead of CPT 92593 in 2026

Bill 92636 for a binaural hearing aid check on or after January 1, 2026. ASHA’s hearing device services codes crosswalk maps 92593 to its hearing aid follow-up and reprogramming row. That row holds 92636 and its add-on, +92637.

92636 is “Hearing aid post-fitting follow-up services, unilateral or bilateral,” for the first 30 minutes. Its descriptor includes these elements:

• Confirmation of physical fit
• Validation of patient benefit and performance
• Sound quality of the device
• Adjustments as indicated, such as verification, programming, device connection and device training
• Hearing assistive device or supplemental technology fitting services, when performed

Report +92637 for each additional 15 minutes, and only together with 92636. Both codes are time-based. The American Academy of Audiology (AAA) coding FAQ sets the minimum for 92636 at 16 minutes, and the first +92637 unit starts at 38 minutes.

The old check code had no time element, so this is the biggest change for billing staff. Under 92636, the minutes in the note decide the units on the claim, as the ladder below shows.

Two other changes matter. The binaural distinction is gone, because 92636 covers one or both ears under the same code. Electroacoustic analysis of a hearing aid now bills on its own as 92641.

The descriptors also bar some pairings. Do not report 92636 in conjunction with 92628, 92629, 92631, 92632, 92634, 92635 or 92642.

The legacy 92590–92595 family and its 2026 replacements

The legacy hearing aid codes split services by ear count and by visit type. This table gives each code’s official descriptor and where ASHA’s crosswalk sends it.

Some older guidance told coders to bill 92594 for a binaural check after a bilateral fitting. That advice was wrong even before 2026. 92594 described a monaural electroacoustic evaluation, and the binaural check was always 92593.

The 12 hearing device services codes that replaced 92590–92595

The new set describes each stage of hearing device care, and each code covers one or both ears. Timed codes use a primary code plus 15-minute add-ons.

Documentation requirements for hearing aid follow-up visits

A claim that replaces 92593 stands or falls on the note. Payers that review 92636 claims look for these elements:

• Total time: State the minutes spent, including chart review before the visit and documentation after it, as the AAA recommends.
• Excluded time: Note that the total excludes time for separately reported codes such as +92639 or 92641.
• Ears and devices: Record which ears were checked, plus the manufacturer, model and serial number of each device.
• Reason for the visit: Record the problem the patient reported, or the scheduled follow-up interval.
• Findings and adjustments: Describe the fit check, the sound quality findings, and any programming changes.
• Verification results: Attach probe-microphone or electroacoustic data when you report +92639 or 92641.
• Provider details: Include the treating audiologist’s name and credentials.

Building these fields into the note template means each claim leaves the practice complete. That is the first step toward submitting a clean claim.

ICD-10 codes to pair with hearing aid follow-up claims

The diagnosis code has to support the hearing loss the devices treat. These are the codes used most often, but check coverage against the plan policy before billing.

92636 covers one or both ears, so the diagnosis now carries the laterality on the claim. Pair a bilateral code, such as H90.3, with a check on both hearing aids. Use a unilateral code, such as H90.41 for right-ear sensorineural loss, for a one-ear follow-up.

Modifiers for hearing aid follow-up codes

Most modifier logic that applied to 92593 no longer fits. The new codes cover one or both ears, so a one-ear check needs no modifier to set it apart from a two-ear check.

Use place of service 11 for a follow-up in the office. For telehealth, use the place of service code the payer specifies.

Medicare and payer coverage for hearing aid checks

Traditional Medicare never paid for 92593, and it does not pay for its replacements. Section 1862(a)(7) of the Social Security Act excludes hearing aids and the exams to prescribe, fit or change them. In the CY 2026 Physician Fee Schedule final rule, CMS kept all 12 new codes non-payable.

In practice, the exclusion shapes three parts of the billing workflow:

• Patient notice: An ABN is not required for a statutorily excluded service. A voluntary notice still sets cost expectations before the visit.
• Denial letter: Some secondary plans pay only after a Medicare denial. Submit the claim with modifier GY in that case.
• Medicare Advantage: Many Part C plans include hearing benefits. Check each plan’s Evidence of Coverage, the codes it accepts, and any prior authorization rule.

Commercial payers and Medicaid programs set their own timelines for the new codes. ASHA notes that HCPCS V codes, such as V5020 for a conformity evaluation, remain available where payers use them.

Confirm which codes each plan accepts for 2026, and any hearing benefit limits, through insurance eligibility verification before the visit.

Common denial reasons for CPT 92593 claims after January 2026

Most 92593 denials now come from the deletion itself. Effective denial management workflows watch for these patterns:

• Deleted code on a 2026 date of service: The payer rejects 92593 as invalid. Resolution: Recode the visit to 92636, add +92637 if the time supports it, and resubmit.
• Time not documented: 92636 is time-based, so a note without minutes fails review. Resolution: Have the audiologist add a total time statement, then resubmit.
• Add-on billed alone: +92637 denies without 92636 on the same claim. Resolution: Add the primary code, or remove the add-on.
• Barred same-day pairing: 92636 appears with 92634 or another code its descriptor excludes. Resolution: Report only the service that matches the visit.
• Payer not yet updated: Some plans have not loaded the 2026 codes. Resolution: Ask which codes the plan accepts, and share ASHA’s letter with its provider relations team.
• Medicare non-covered service: Traditional Medicare denies hearing aid services under the statutory exclusion. Resolution: Bill the patient under your financial policy, and append GY when a denial letter is needed.

The denial codes in medical billing reference explains the CARC codes on your remittance advice. A medical claims clearinghouse surfaces those denials quickly, so staff can recode while the visit is still fresh.

How Pabau helps audiology practices bill hearing aid follow-ups

A deleted code can sit in a billing template for months after January. Each claim built on it denies, and staff then recode those claims one at a time.

Pabau, the practice management and billing platform we build, stores the CPT code on each service. Update the hearing aid follow-up service to 92636 once, and every new visit carries the current code. Our audiology claims management then tracks each claim from submission to payment.

For US practices, our Claim.MD clearinghouse integration handles electronic claim submission, eligibility checks and ERA remittance. Your team spends less time recoding denied claims and more time with patients.

Bill hearing aid follow-ups with the 2026 codes

Pabau links CPT codes to your services, checks eligibility, and tracks each claim to payment. See how it fits your audiology billing.

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Conclusion

CPT 92593 described one service, a hearing aid check on both ears, and it no longer exists. From January 1, 2026, that visit bills as 92636, with time-based units of +92637, whether the patient wears one hearing aid or two.

Practices adjust fastest when they treat the change as a template job. Retire the legacy codes, add a time field to the follow-up note, and confirm which codes each payer accepts.

To see how Pabau keeps audiology codes current from service setup to paid claim, book a demo with our team.

Continue your research

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