Coding and Billing Support for Facilities & Professionals
The Cochlear Coding Support Program is available to provide assistance to healthcare providers, clinics, and facilities with coding questions related to Cochlear's cochlear implants and Baha® auditory implants. Program staff can answer questions related to coding options and guidelines for services and devices according to published reference sources. Although many questions can be answered immediately, some may require more detailed research with a response available within one to two business days.
To contact the Cochlear Coding Support Program,
please call 1-800-587-6910, (8 AM - 3 PM Mountain time zone) or email codingsupport@cochlear.com
♦ Coding Sheets — download PDF forms:
- CI Coding Sheet 2011
- Bilateral CI Coding Sheet 2011
- Baha Coding Sheet 2011
- Vistafix Coding Sheet 2011
Modifiers allow you to report situations in which the procedure or service has been modified by individual circumstances.
♦ Medicare Forms
- Medicare Physician and Audiology Fee Schedules 2010 (download PDF)
- Medicare OPPS Fee Schedule 2010 (download PDF)
- Medicare ASC Fee Schedule 2010
(download PDF)
- We are starting a new Baha® program. Do payers cover Baha?
- Cochlear implants and Bahas are medical devices, how can we make sure we get appropriate reimbursement to cover these costs?
- Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) have not traditionally performed many procedures involving implantable medical devices. How can we get reimbursed for those procedures?
- How do I know if my patient is eligible for an upgrade replacement of the patient’s Cochlear-provided sound processor for either cochlear implants or the Baha?
- Is there a limit to the number of sessions or frequency for cochlear implant mapping/programming that I can get reimbursed/bill?
- What codes am I allowed to bill together? It seems I get frequent denials for certain combinations of codes.
- Are there any codes for neural response telemetry (NRT)?
- How do we code for a Baha abutment change? Can we do this service in the office setting?
An Advance Beneficiary Notice, commonly referred to as an ABN, is a notice given to patients to inform them that their insurance payer is not likely to cover a particular service or item. When a healthcare provider plans to perform such a service for a patient, the provider or other staff member should verbally explain the expected lack of coverage for the service, have the patient sign the ABN, and provide a copy of the signed form to the patient as well as keep a copy of the form on file. A specific ABN form is required for Medicare beneficiaries, available at US Department of Health and Human Service's web site. Healthcare providers should check each state's Medicaid requirements and with their individual insurance contracts to determine ABN requirements for other payers/programs.
Information on how to use these codes is available in the Step by Step guide Coding and Support section.
Last update: 10/13/10
