New and Revised Codes for Contralateral Routing Hearing Aids Available in 2019

CMS made significant revisions for contralateral routing hearing aid codes commonly known as CROS/BiCROS hearing devices (V5170 – V5240) effective January 1, 2019. The changes include the addition of 9 new codes and the revisions of 4 existing codes. The changes are an attempt to more accurately describe the current hearing aid technology used to treat patients with Single Sided Deafness and also patients with some degree of hearing loss in one ear and an unaidable hearing loss on the other side. 

The original CROS/BiCROS codes were created in the 1980s to describe technology that is no longer available today. CROS and BiCROS hearing aids are no longer dedicated devices.  Advancements in hearing aid technology allow for contralateral routing devices to be configured for a wide range of clinical applications. 

The current codes create problems when working with insurance. The current CROS and BiCROS codes do not accurately describe to payers that the patient is receiving 2 devices (1 hearing aid and 1 contralateral routing device) regardless of degree of loss in the better ear. There also is currently no way to report when a single contralateral routing device is provided to a patient who wears an existing hearing aid on the opposite ear.   

The original code change proposal application was submitted to CMS by  the American Academy of Audiology (AAA), the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA), the Academy of Rehabilitative Audiology (ARA) and the Educational Audiology Association (EAA) and hearing aid industry manufacturer Phonak.  CMS modified the original request, but we are hopeful that with aggressive payer and member education, the new and revised codes for 2019 will be beneficial.

The Academy’s Coding and Reimbursement Committee will be providing a series of member education and resources on this topic in the near future. 

New Codes –

HCPCS Code	Descriptor
V5171	Hearing aid, contralateral routing device, monaural, in the ear (ite)
V5172	Hearing aid, contralateral routing device, monaural, in the canal (itc)
V5181	Hearing aid, contralateral routing device, monaural, behind the ear (bte)
V5211	Hearing aid, contralateral routing system, binaural, ite/ite
V5212	Hearing aid, contralateral routing system, binaural, ite/itc
V5213	Hearing aid, contralateral routing system, binaural, ite/bte
V5214	Hearing aid, contralateral routing system, binaural, itc/itc
V5215	Hearing aid, contralateral routing system, binaural, itc/bte
V5221	Hearing aid, contralateral routing system, binaural, bte/bte

These codes are intended to be used in reporting current contralateral routing technology. 
Use the monaural codes when providing 1 contralateral routing device. 
Use the binaural codes when providing 1 hearing aid and 1 contralateral routing device. 

Revised Codes –

HCPCS Code	Descriptor
V5190	Hearing aid, contralateral routing, monaural, glasses
V5200	Dispensing fee, contralateral, monaural
V5230	Hearing aid, contralateral routing system, binaural, glasses
V5240	Dispensing fee, contralateral routing system, binaural

Use V5200 for dispensing 1 monaural contralateral routing device.  
Use V5240 for dispensing 2 devices (e.g. binaural contralateral routing system, legacy CROS or BiCROS).

CMS recently updated the HCPCS file for CY2019.  Codes V5170, V5180, V5210 and V5220 were deleted and should be discontinued for services on or after January 1, 2019.  Reporting for all CROS and BiCROS services may be accomplished with the new HCPCS codes. 

For inquires with regard to specific coding or individual coverage, please contact the payer directly for clarification. Information and a complete listing of all HCPCS codes for CY2019 may be accessed on the CMS website click here.

HCPCS Code	Descriptor
V5170	Hearing aid, CROS, in the ear
V5180	Hearing aid, CROS, behind the ear
V5210	Hearing aid, BiCROS, in the ear
V5220	Hearing aid, BiCROS, behind the ear

Disclaimer: While HCPCS codes are part of the standardized code set required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), the use of HCPCS codes does not guarantee payment. You will need to check with your specific payors for their policy on these codes and devices.