CPT code 92553: Audiometry, air and bone thresholds2026 Medicare rate & RVUs
Reports pure-tone hearing threshold testing by air and bone conduction when both measures are performed to evaluate hearing sensitivity and loss type.
Medicare pays $49.10 for 92553 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $42.06–$70.50.
Medicare rate · 92553
Audiometry, air and bone thresholds
- Work RVUs
- 0
- Total RVUs
- 1.47
- Global days
- XXX
National rate · 2026
$49.10
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 92553 →Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
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On this page 10 sections
What 92553 covers
This test measures the softest tones a patient can hear at selected frequencies using air-conduction and bone-conduction methods. Comparing the results helps characterize hearing sensitivity and distinguish a conductive component from sensorineural loss. Audiologists commonly perform the testing in an audiology clinic, ENT practice, or other setting equipped for diagnostic hearing assessment. The resulting thresholds are recorded on an audiogram for the ordering or treating clinician to use in evaluating hearing concerns.
Report 92553 when both air- and bone-conduction pure-tone thresholds are obtained. The record should support the medical reason for testing and include the test results for each ear. CMS classifies this as a technical-component-only code; a separate code represents interpretation when that service is performed. The code is priced as bilateral, so modifier 50 does not increase payment. Speech testing and middle-ear measures are distinct services and should be reported separately only when performed and supported by the record.
This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.
Where 92553 pays more and less
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
109 payment localities
$42.06 to $70.50
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $42.86 | Unavailable |
| Alaska | $52.12 | Unavailable |
| Arizona | $47.54 | Unavailable |
| Arkansas | $42.06 | Unavailable |
| Atlanta, GA | $49.95 | Unavailable |
| Austin, TX | $51.89 | Unavailable |
| Bakersfield, CA | $53.65 | Unavailable |
| Baltimore area, MD | $52.74 | Unavailable |
| Beaumont, TX | $44.69 | Unavailable |
| Brazoria, TX | $48.59 | Unavailable |
| Chicago, IL | $49.78 | Unavailable |
| Chico, CA | $53.63 | Unavailable |
| Colorado | $52.15 | Unavailable |
| Connecticut | $52.92 | Unavailable |
| Dallas, TX | $48.86 | Unavailable |
| Delaware | $48.48 | Unavailable |
| Detroit, MI | $47.62 | Unavailable |
| East St. Louis, IL | $45.54 | Unavailable |
| El Centro, CA | $53.63 | Unavailable |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | $50.00 | Unavailable |
| Fort Worth, TX | $48.37 | Unavailable |
| Fresno, CA | $53.63 | Unavailable |
| Galveston, TX | $48.70 | Unavailable |
| Hanford, CA | $53.63 | Unavailable |
| Hawaii, Guam, HI | $55.64 | Unavailable |
| Houston, TX | $48.88 | Unavailable |
| Idaho | $45.02 | Unavailable |
| Indiana | $45.37 | Unavailable |
| Iowa | $44.75 | Unavailable |
| Kansas | $44.25 | Unavailable |
| Kentucky | $43.66 | Unavailable |
| King County, WA | $60.11 | Unavailable |
| Los Angeles, CA | $57.91 | Unavailable |
| Madera, CA | $53.63 | Unavailable |
| Manhattan, NY | $57.20 | Unavailable |
| Marin County, CA | $68.91 | Unavailable |
| Merced, CA | $53.63 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Boston, MA | $58.52 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Kansas City, MO | $46.12 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia, PA | $51.16 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan St. Louis, MO | $46.76 | Unavailable |
| Miami, FL | $51.61 | Unavailable |
| Minnesota | $50.28 | Unavailable |
| Mississippi | $42.23 | Unavailable |
| Modesto, CA | $53.63 | Unavailable |
| Montana | $49.10 | Unavailable |
| Napa, CA | $64.44 | Unavailable |
| Nebraska | $45.14 | Unavailable |
| Nevada | $49.09 | Unavailable |
| New Hampshire | $51.06 | Unavailable |
| New Mexico | $45.12 | Unavailable |
| New Orleans, LA | $46.27 | Unavailable |
| North Carolina | $45.71 | Unavailable |
| North Dakota | $48.90 | Unavailable |
| Northern New Jersey | $56.92 | Unavailable |
| NYC suburbs and Long Island, NY | $58.60 | Unavailable |
| Ohio | $44.86 | Unavailable |
| Oklahoma | $43.81 | Unavailable |
| Oxnard, CA | $57.85 | Unavailable |
| Portland, OR | $54.43 | Unavailable |
| Poughkeepsie and northern NYC suburbs, NY | $53.80 | Unavailable |
| Puerto Rico | $49.63 | Unavailable |
| Queens, NY | $58.12 | Unavailable |
| Redding, CA | $53.63 | Unavailable |
| Rest of California | $53.63 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Florida | $47.12 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Georgia | $43.90 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Illinois | $45.04 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Louisiana | $43.48 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Maine | $45.07 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Maryland | $49.66 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Massachusetts | $51.62 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Michigan | $44.90 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Missouri | $42.36 | Unavailable |
| Rest of New Jersey | $53.62 | Unavailable |
| Rest of New York | $46.56 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Oregon | $48.81 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Pennsylvania | $45.08 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Texas | $46.58 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Washington | $51.60 | Unavailable |
| Rhode Island | $50.67 | Unavailable |
| Riverside, CA | $53.73 | Unavailable |
| Sacramento, CA | $56.89 | Unavailable |
| Salinas, CA | $56.70 | Unavailable |
| San Benito County, CA | $70.50 | Unavailable |
| San Diego, CA | $58.50 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco, CA | $68.90 | Unavailable |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $55.72 | Unavailable |
| Santa Clara County, CA | $70.45 | Unavailable |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $59.43 | Unavailable |
| Santa Maria, CA | $57.04 | Unavailable |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $60.06 | Unavailable |
| South Carolina | $45.34 | Unavailable |
| South Dakota | $48.88 | Unavailable |
| Southern Maine, ME | $48.54 | Unavailable |
| Stockton, CA | $53.63 | Unavailable |
| Suburban Chicago, IL | $50.67 | Unavailable |
| Tennessee | $44.51 | Unavailable |
| Utah | $46.14 | Unavailable |
| Vallejo, CA | $64.43 | Unavailable |
| Vermont | $48.45 | Unavailable |
| Virgin Islands, VI | $49.63 | Unavailable |
| Virginia | $48.17 | Unavailable |
| Visalia, CA | $53.63 | Unavailable |
| Washington, DC area | $57.82 | Unavailable |
| West Virginia | $42.86 | Unavailable |
| Wisconsin | $46.82 | Unavailable |
| Wyoming | $49.01 | Unavailable |
| Yuba City, CA | $53.63 | Unavailable |
92553 rates by state
Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.
Explore a state
Local rates. Clear comparisons.
Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.
$42.06
$62.07
Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.
View every state and territory as a table
| State / territory | Office rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | $52.12 | 1 |
| AL | $42.86 | 1 |
| AR | $42.06 | 1 |
| AZ | $47.54 | 1 |
| CA | $53.63–$70.50 | 29 |
| CO | $52.15 | 1 |
| CT | $52.92 | 1 |
| DC | $57.82 | 1 |
| DE | $48.48 | 1 |
| FL | $47.12–$51.61 | 3 |
| GA | $43.90–$49.95 | 2 |
| GU | $55.64 | 1 |
| HI | $55.64 | 1 |
| IA | $44.75 | 1 |
| ID | $45.02 | 1 |
| IL | $45.04–$50.67 | 4 |
| IN | $45.37 | 1 |
| KS | $44.25 | 1 |
| KY | $43.66 | 1 |
| LA | $43.48–$46.27 | 2 |
| MA | $51.62–$58.52 | 2 |
| MD | $49.66–$57.82 | 3 |
| ME | $45.07–$48.54 | 2 |
| MI | $44.90–$47.62 | 2 |
| MN | $50.28 | 1 |
| MO | $42.36–$46.76 | 3 |
| MS | $42.23 | 1 |
| MT | $49.10 | 1 |
| NC | $45.71 | 1 |
| ND | $48.90 | 1 |
| NE | $45.14 | 1 |
| NH | $51.06 | 1 |
| NJ | $53.62–$56.92 | 2 |
| NM | $45.12 | 1 |
| NV | $49.09 | 1 |
| NY | $46.56–$58.60 | 5 |
| OH | $44.86 | 1 |
| OK | $43.81 | 1 |
| OR | $48.81–$54.43 | 2 |
| PA | $45.08–$51.16 | 2 |
| PR | $49.63 | 1 |
| RI | $50.67 | 1 |
| SC | $45.34 | 1 |
| SD | $48.88 | 1 |
| TN | $44.51 | 1 |
| TX | $44.69–$51.89 | 8 |
| UT | $46.14 | 1 |
| VA | $48.17–$57.82 | 2 |
| VI | $49.63 | 1 |
| VT | $48.45 | 1 |
| WA | $51.60–$60.11 | 2 |
| WI | $46.82 | 1 |
| WV | $42.86 | 1 |
| WY | $49.01 | 1 |
How the 92553 rate is calculated
Each of 92553’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.
How the rate is built · 92553
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.00
0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense1.46
1.46 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.01
0.01 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
1.4700
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$49.10
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 92553
The CMS indicators that decide how 92553 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 92553
Audiometry, air and bone thresholds
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | XXX | The global surgery concept doesn’t apply. |
| Multiple procedures | 0 | No multiple-procedure reduction. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 2 | Already bilateral by definition: paid once at 100%. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 3 | Technical component only. |
92553 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 92552Pure-tone audiometryAir conduction only
- 92552 is limited to air-conduction pure-tone testing. Choose 92553 when bone-conduction thresholds are also obtained.
- 92557Comprehensive hearing testAir, bone, and speech testing
- 92557 represents comprehensive audiometry, including pure-tone and speech testing. 92553 reports air- and bone-conduction pure-tone thresholds only.
- 92555Speech audiometryThreshold only
- 92555 measures speech-recognition threshold; it is not a pure-tone threshold test. Use 92553 for air- and bone-conduction tone thresholds.
- 92556Speech audiometryWith speech recognition
- 92556 covers speech audiometry with speech recognition testing. It does not substitute for the pure-tone air- and bone-conduction testing reported with 92553.
92553 billing questions
When should 92553 be chosen instead of 92552?
Use 92553 when the test includes both air- and bone-conduction thresholds. 92552 covers pure-tone air-conduction testing alone.
Is 92553 the same as a comprehensive hearing test?
No. 92553 covers pure-tone air- and bone-conduction thresholds; 92557 is the comprehensive audiometry service that also includes speech audiometry.
Should modifier 50 be added for testing both ears?
No. CMS prices 92553 as bilateral, and modifier 50 does not increase payment.
Does 92553 include interpretation?
CMS classifies 92553 as technical-component-only. A separate code represents interpretation when that service is performed.
Can speech audiometry be reported with 92553?
Yes, when speech testing is separately performed and documented. 92555 covers speech-threshold testing, while 92556 covers speech audiometry with speech recognition testing.
Where these rates come from
FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.
CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027
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