New Medical Procedure Codes Could Offer People With Hearing Loss Greater Transparency and Choice in Their Hearing Health Care, Says ASHA

(Rockville, MD) A new set of Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) codes that describe audiology services related to hearing aids and other hearing devices has the potential to transform hearing health care for millions of Americans beginning in 2026, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). The new codes represent the culmination of several years of work led by ASHA, the American Academy of Audiology (AAA), and the American Medical Association (AMA). 

The proposed 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule [PDF], which was released today by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), includes an overhaul to the audiology billing codes for the professional services associated with the selection, fitting, and maintenance of hearing aids and other hearing devices. These codes have not been updated in more than 3 decades—despite significant advances in hearing device technology and a continuing evolution of diagnostic and treatment practices for hearing loss. The new code set does not address hearing devices themselves. 

“We appreciate these changes in the proposed 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule,” said 2025 ASHA President Bernadette Mayfield-Clarke, PhD, CCC-SLP. “The new codes align better with modern health care practices and technology, enabling audiologists to provide tailored hearing health care to their patients. As hearing loss is the third most chronic physical condition in the United States, with serious consequences to both children and adults when left unaddressed, changes that can improve access to treatment are critical.”

The new code set replaces six longstanding CPT® codes with 12 new codes that better describe the complete process of hearing device care—from evaluating patients in order to determine if they are good candidates for a hearing device to selecting and fitting the right device for them. The list below includes just some of the many benefits that these new, more precise codes will provide to people with hearing loss. 

• Greater transparency about the costs of hearing care. Traditionally, the costs of hearing devices have been “bundled” with the associated professional services that audiologists provide (e.g., selecting and fitting the hearing aid to the patient, adjusting the patient’s device as their hearing changes). This bundled model has made it difficult for patients to understand the price of the actual hearing device versus the costs of the services needed to support the appropriate use of the device. Codes that are more precise add transparency to the process. 

• More choice for consumers. Greater specificity within billing will allow consumers to decide which audiology services they’d like to pursue based upon their individual needs. For example, whereas one person may need only a hearing evaluation and a subsequent hearing aid fitting, another person may need additional follow-up appointments. Such decisions would be up to the patient because it will now be possible for audiologists to bill for individual services.

• Increased access to audiologic services. Audiologists will have more incentive and opportunity to provide services that they were previously unable to be reimbursed for, such as services for over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids that people acquired outside of an audiologist’s office. 

The new code set does not address hearing devices themselves, nor does it guarantee the coverage of the device-related audiology services described by the codes—although ASHA advocates for such coverage directly with insurers and policymakers. Currently, traditional Medicare does not cover hearing aids or related audiological services. Many Medicare Advantage, state Medicaid, employer-sponsored, and marketplace plans offer some coverage for hearing aids and services based on each individual’s plan(s). Insurance coverage for children may vary depending on the insurance plan and state law. Some state laws mandate insurance coverage for hearing aids and related services. 

The final set of new CPT codes is expected to be published in Fall 2025—with the release of the final Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and implementation slated for January 1, 2026. For more specific information about the proposed new codes, visit www.asha.org/practice/reimbursement/coding/new-hearing-device-services-codes-modernizing-audiologic-services/.

About the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
ASHA is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for 241,000 members, certificate holders, and affiliates who are audiologists; speech-language pathologists; speech, language, and hearing scientists; audiology and speech-language pathology assistants; and students. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing and balance disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment, including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) identify, assess, and treat speech, language, and swallowing disorders.