Summary & Overview
HCPCS V5289: Assistive Listening FM/DM Adapter or Boot for Receiver
HCPCS Level II code V5289 identifies an assistive listening device: a personal FM/DM adapter or boot coupling device for a hearing receiver. Nationally, such accessories support communication access for people with hearing loss by enabling wireless microphone systems to interface with hearing aids and cochlear implant processors. Coverage and coding clarity for these accessories matter for audiology practice billing, patient out-of-pocket costs, and access to assistive technology.
Key payers discussed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of what V5289 represents, the typical service context and sites of service, and the common payer landscape. The publication outlines benchmarks and policy-relevant considerations such as coverage variability across commercial plans and Medicare, billing and documentation expectations, and how this code fits within assistive hearing device supply workflows. It also highlights areas where payers commonly require specific documentation for medical necessity and device compatibility.
This summary is intended for billing managers, audiology clinicians, and policy analysts seeking a national perspective on coding and coverage considerations for assistive listening accessories.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code V5289 describes an assistive listening device, personal FM/DM adapter/boot coupling device for receiver, any type. The service represented is the provision or supply of an accessory that couples a personal FM or DM wireless microphone system to a hearing device receiver, enabling improved sound transmission for individuals with hearing impairment.
Service type: Durable medical equipment / assistive listening accessory
Typical site of service: Outpatient clinics, audiology offices, specialty hearing device retailers, and other ambulatory care settings
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A patient with a sensorineural hearing loss or conductive component who uses a personal FM/DM receiver for improved speech-in-noise understanding presents to an audiology clinic or durable medical equipment provider for a V5289 assistive listening device adapter/boot coupling device. Typical workflow: the audiologist assesses hearing and communication needs, verifies existing hearing instruments or receivers, determines the need for an adapter or boot to couple a personal FM/DM transmitter to the patient’s receiver, documents device model compatibility and medical necessity, obtains prior authorization if required, fits the adapter/boot to the receiver, demonstrates use with the transmitter, performs listening checks and basic functional verification, provides patient instruction and written device information, and completes billing using V5289. Typical site of service is an outpatient audiology clinic, hearing aid dispensing office, or durable medical equipment supplier. The typical patient is an adult or pediatric hearing-impaired individual who already has a hearing aid or cochlear implant or uses a personal FM/DM receiver and requires a coupling accessory to interface with an assistive listening system.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
22 | Increased procedural services |