Summary & Overview
CPT 92587: Otoacoustic Emissions Hearing Screening with Report
CPT code 92587 identifies an otoacoustic emissions (OAE) screening with interpretation and report, a brief noninvasive hearing test commonly used for newborns and young children. The code captures the performance of the screening and the professional interpretation documented in a report. Nationally, this code matters for early detection of hearing impairment, newborn screening programs, pediatric audiology workflows, and payer coverage policies that affect access to timely diagnosis and follow-up care.
Key payers examined include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise clinical context for the code, typical sites of service and service type, and an outline of the administrative elements that affect billing and reporting for OAE screenings. The publication summarizes payer coverage considerations and common billing modifiers (listed separately), highlights where CPT code 92587 is used in care pathways for infants and children, and identifies common questions that arise in clinical billing workflows. This overview is intended for program managers, billing professionals, and clinical leaders seeking a national perspective on how OAE screening with interpretation is coded and documented.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 92587 describes a screening test with interpretation and report for otoacoustic emissions (OAE). The procedure is a noninvasive hearing screening that detects low‑intensity sounds produced by healthy cochlear hair cells and is commonly used to identify hearing defects in newborns and young children.
Service Type: Hearing screening with interpretation and report
Typical Site of Service: Newborn nursery, pediatric clinic, audiology clinic, or outpatient ENT setting
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Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is a newborn or infant referred for newborn hearing screening or follow-up after a failed initial screen. The patient is brought to a hospital newborn nursery, outpatient pediatric audiology clinic, or community health center. A trained audiology technician or pediatric audiologist performs an otoacoustic emissions (OAE) screening using a small probe placed in the ear canal; the device emits soft sounds and records cochlear (outer hair cell) responses. The test is noninvasive, usually takes under 10 minutes, and is performed bilaterally. Results are interpreted by the performing clinician and a brief report is generated documenting pass/refer outcomes and any need for diagnostic audiology follow-up. Typical workflow: check patient identity and indications, explain procedure to caregiver, inspect ear canal for debris, place probe and obtain recordings, interpret results, document findings in the medical record, and provide discharge or referral instructions. Billing uses 92587 for screening with interpretation and report; site of service is commonly the newborn nursery, hospital outpatient department, or ambulatory audiology clinic.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
25 | Significant, separately identifiable E/M service by the same physician on the same day | When a distinct evaluation and management visit is performed on the same day as the OAE screening. |