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    OpenPayerBilling CodesEvaluative and Therapeutic Otorhinolaryngologic ServicesCPT cpt-92616-endoscopic-swallow-and-laryngeal-sensory-eval
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    CPT 92616: Endoscopic Evaluation of Pharynx and Larynx Sensory/Motor Function

    Medicare pays $238 and commercial payers pay $202 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 92616 describes an endoscopic evaluation of pharyngeal and laryngeal function using a flexible endoscope with cine or video recording to assess swallowing-related muscle function and laryngeal sensory and motor deficits; service type: endoscopic laryngopharyngeal evaluation with sensory testing, typical site of service: otolaryngology clinic or ambulatory procedure suite.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Artificial Cervical Intervertebral Disc, Lumbar Microdiscectomy, Lumbar Decompression.

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    National Reimbursement Benchmarks

    Medicare’s mean rate of $238.10 sits slightly above BUCA’s average commercial mean of $201.90, indicating Medicare reimbursements for CPT 92616 are modestly higher than this commercial benchmark but within a similar order of magnitude. The median Medicare locality value is $233, close to its mean, suggesting relative centrality across the 47 localities; BUCA’s median of $175.20 sits below its mean, implying some higher commercial outliers lift the average. Dispersion measured as P75 minus P25 highlights variability differences: Blue Cross Blue Shield shows a range of $105.60 (P75 $227.00 minus P25 $121.40), while UnitedHealth Group is wider at $180.80 (P75 $356.20 minus P25 $175.40). Aetna’s spread is $121.60, Cigna’s is $195.80, and BUCA’s interquartile range is $134.40; Medicare’s IQR is $27.00. This identifies Medicare as the tightest payer by IQR and Cigna and UnitedHealth Group among the widest.

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    National Payer Mean Reimbursement Rates

    State Reimbursement Rates

    State: Alaska1 / 51

    Rate by payer

    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 68-year-old patient with progressive dysphagia and intermittent aspiration is referred for instrumental evaluation of swallowing and laryngeal sensory-motor function. The patient has a history of progressive hearing loss and reports coughing during meals and a sensation of food sticking in the throat. The evaluating clinician performs a flexible transnasal endoscopic examination of the pharynx and larynx using a flexible endoscope with cine/video recording to assess pharyngeal musculature, vocal fold mobility, and laryngeal sensation. The workflow includes pre-procedure history and symptom review, topical nasal anesthesia as indicated, flexible endoscope insertion, dynamic assessment of pharyngeal and laryngeal structures during rest and swallowing trials, sensory testing of the laryngeal mucosa (such as touch or air pulse stimulation per clinic protocol), documentation of findings with video, and post-procedure discussion of results and recommendations. Typical site of service is an outpatient otolaryngology or speech-language pathology clinic equipped for endoscopy; the service may also occur in a hospital outpatient department for medically complex patients. The procedure is coded to reflect flexible endoscopic evaluation with sensory testing and cine/video recording to evaluate swallowing and laryngeal function.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    92557Comprehensive audiometry threshold evaluation and speech recognitionPerformed when formal audiometric assessment is needed to document hearing status that may impact communication and swallowing management

    Related Modifiers

    10 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    51Modifier –51 (Multiple Procedures) is used when the same provider performs multiple procedures in the same session to identify secondary, non‑exempt procedures and indicate payment reduction logic…- Use modifier -51 when the same provider performs multiple distinct procedures during the same patient encounter: report the highest‑valued procedure first (no modifier) and append -51 to…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    78CPT modifier -78 indicates an unplanned, related return to the operating or procedure room by the same provider during the global postoperative period. It is appended when treatment for a…- Use modifier -78 when an unplanned, related complication during the original procedure’s global postoperative period requires the patient to return to a formal operating or procedure room and the…
    80CPT® Modifier 80 (Assistant Surgeon) is appended to a surgical CPT code when a physician (MD or DO) provides full, continuous assistance throughout the operative procedure. It is intended only for…- Use CPT Modifier -80 when a physician (MD or DO) serves as an assistant surgeon and provides full, continuous assistance throughout the entire operative procedure; append -80 to the surgical CPT…
    82Modifier 82 is appended to a surgical CPT code to indicate that an attending physician acted as an assistant because a qualified resident surgeon was unavailable. In teaching hospitals it documents…- When to use: Append modifier 82 in teaching-hospital settings to indicate a physician served as an assistant surgeon because a qualified resident surgeon was unavailable (includes situations where…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy CodeSpecialtyNotes
    231H00000XAudiologist(1) A specialist in evaluation, habilitation and rehabilitation of those whose communication disorders center in whole or in part in hearing function.…
    231HA2400XAssistive Technology Practitioner AudiologistSpeech, Language and Hearing Service Providers · Audiologist
    2278H0200XHome Health Certified Respiratory TherapistHome care fosters individual responsibility for self-management of chronic respiratory conditions. It includes individualized assessment based plans …
    246ZG0701XGraphics Methods Specialist/TechnologistNone
    2080P0210XPediatric Nephrology PhysicianA pediatrician who deals with the normal and abnormal development and maturation of the kidney and urinary tract, the mechanisms by which the kidney c…
    364SH0200XHome Health Clinical Nurse SpecialistPhysician Assistants & Advanced Practice Nursing Providers · Clinical Nurse Specialist
    237600000XAudiologist-Hearing Aid FitterAn audiologist/hearing aid fitter is the professional who specializes in evaluating and treating people with hearing loss, conducts a wide variety of …
    3336L0003XLong Term Care PharmacyA pharmacy that dispenses medicinal preparations delivered to patients residing within an intermediate or skilled nursing facility, including intermed…

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Neurology/Neurosurgery1 / 3

    7 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Artificial Cervical Intervertebral Discuniverahealthcare2026-10-15
    Lumbar Microdiscectomyuniverahealthcare2026-10-15
    Lumbar Decompressionuniverahealthcare2026-10-15
    Nerve Fiber Density Testing (IENFD/ENFD) Coverage CriteriaOscar Health2026-10-01
    Biomarker Testing for Multiple Sclerosis and Related Neurologic DiseasesOscar Health2026-10-01
    Biochemical Markers of Alzheimer Disease and DementiaOscar Health2026-10-01
    Serum Testing For Evidence of Mild Traumatic Brain InjuryOscar Health2026-10-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-92601-COCHLEAR-IMPLANT-ANALYSIS-PROGRAMMING-UNDER-7

    CPT 92601: Cochlear Implant Analysis and Programming, Patient <7

    CPT-92602-COCHLEAR-IMPLANT-REPROGRAMMING-PEDIATRIC

    CPT 92602: Cochlear Implant Reprogramming, Patient <7 Years

    CPT-92603-COCHLEAR-IMPLANT-ANALYSIS-AND-PROGRAMMING

    CPT 92603: Cochlear Implant Programming and Patient Counseling

    CPT-92604-COCHLEAR-IMPLANT-REPROGRAMMING

    CPT 92604: Cochlear Implant Reprogramming, Age 7 and Older

    CPT-92605-AAC-DEVICE-EVALUATION-ONE-HOUR

    CPT 92605: Evaluation for Non–Speech–Generating Communication Device

    CPT-92606-ASSISTIVE-COMMUNICATION-DEVICE-TRAINING-CAREGIVER-INSTRUCTION

    CPT 92606: Therapeutic Training for Non‑Speech Generating Device

    CPT-92607-SPEECH-GENERATING-DEVICE-EVALUATION-FIRST-HOUR

    CPT 92607: Evaluation for Speech‑Generating Device, First Hour

    CPT-92608-SPEECH-GENERATING-DEVICE-ADDITIONAL-30-MIN-EVAL

    CPT 92608: Additional 30-Minute Speech‑Generating Device Evaluation

    CPT-92609-SPEECH-GENERATING-DEVICE-THERAPY-CAREGIVER-TRAINING

    CPT 92609: Therapeutic Training for Speech‑Generating Device

    CPT-92610-SPECIAL-OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGIC-PROCEDURE-SWALLOWING-EVALUATION

    CPT 92610: Special Otolaryngologic Procedure for Swallowing Evaluation

    Showing 1–10 of 37

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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    92567Tympanometry (impedance testing)Performed to assess middle ear function when conductive components to hearing or balance symptoms are suspected
    92568Acoustic reflex testing; thresholdPerformed to evaluate stapedius reflex pathways as part of a comprehensive auditory workup that may accompany laryngeal evaluation
    92570Acoustic immittance testing, includes tympanometry, acoustic reflex threshold testing, and acoustic reflex decay testingCombined immittance testing commonly performed in audiology evaluation adjacent to endoscopic laryngeal assessment