CPT code 92588: Otoacoustic emissions, comprehensive evaluation2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Reports a comprehensive, multi-frequency otoacoustic emission assessment with interpretation, commonly used to evaluate cochlear function when behavioral hearing testing is limited.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities88.7K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $33.73 for 92588 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $31.34–$43.58.

Medicare rate · 92588

Otoacoustic emissions, comprehensive evaluation

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
0.55
Total RVUs
1.01
Global days
XXX

National rate · 2026

$33.73

Office setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 92588 →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.

Your location

Medicare pays by the payment locality where the service is performed.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 92588 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 92588 covers

An audiologist uses a small probe in the ear canal to present sounds and record the cochlea’s resulting otoacoustic emissions. This comprehensive assessment samples multiple frequencies and helps evaluate outer hair cell function, including when an infant or another patient cannot reliably complete behavioral testing. It provides objective information about cochlear responses, rather than behavioral hearing thresholds.

Report the comprehensive service when the evaluation meets the code’s frequency scope and includes interpretation and a report; retain the test results and interpretation in the record. A limited evoked otoacoustic emission evaluation is a different service. CMS separately prices the professional interpretation and the technical equipment-and-staff portions: report modifier 26 for the professional component or TC for the technical component, or report the global service without either modifier. CMS pricing treats the service as bilateral, so modifier 50 does not increase payment.

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 92588 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

$31.34 to $43.58

$31.34$37.46$43.58
One dot per payment locality, office / nonfacility. Hover a dot to see the locality; select it to open that rate.

109 of 109 payment localities

92588 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Alabama$31.61Unavailable
Alaska$43.58Unavailable
Arizona$33.18Unavailable
Arkansas$31.34Unavailable
Atlanta, GA$34.16Unavailable
Austin, TX$34.55Unavailable
Bakersfield, CA$35.23Unavailable
Baltimore area, MD$35.26Unavailable
Beaumont, TX$32.36Unavailable
Brazoria, TX$33.60Unavailable

92588 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.

$31.34

$43.58

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
92588 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$43.581
AL$31.611
AR$31.341
AZ$33.181
CA$35.15–$41.9429
CO$34.751
CT$35.371
DC$37.421
DE$33.581
FL$33.42–$35.363
GA$32.28–$34.162
GU$35.471
HI$35.471
IA$32.081
ID$32.211
IL$32.83–$34.804
IN$32.321
KS$31.991
KY$32.051
LA$32.02–$32.962
MA$34.67–$37.272
MD$34.04–$37.423
ME$32.31–$33.362
MI$32.54–$33.682
MN$33.691
MO$31.69–$33.033
MS$31.521
MT$33.731
NC$32.511
ND$33.341
NE$32.191
NH$34.251
NJ$35.89–$37.292
NM$32.651
NV$33.641
NY$32.80–$38.265
OH$32.461
OK$32.011
OR$33.48–$35.492
PA$32.49–$34.802
PR$33.891
RI$34.501
SC$32.521
SD$33.291
TN$32.091
TX$32.36–$34.558
UT$32.781
VA$33.29–$37.422
VI$33.891
VT$33.261
WA$34.59–$37.872
WI$32.661
WV$32.101
WY$33.561

How the 92588 rate is calculated

Each of 92588’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 · 92588

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.55

0.55 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense0.44

0.44 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.02

0.02 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

1.0100

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$33.73

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 92588

The CMS indicators that decide how 92588 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 92588

Otoacoustic emissions, comprehensive evaluation

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodXXXThe global surgery concept doesn’t apply.
Multiple procedures0No multiple-procedure reduction.
Bilateral (modifier 50)2Already bilateral by definition: paid once at 100%.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical1Diagnostic test with separate professional (26) and technical (TC) components.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 26 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

92588 without 26 · national office

$33.73

Otoacoustic emissions, comprehensive evaluation

92588-26 · Professional component

$28.72

Pays only the interpretation and report.

When to use modifier 26

92588 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 92588

    Otoacoustic emissions, comprehensive evaluation0.55 wRVU

    $33.73

  • 92587

    Otoacoustic emissions, limited frequency assessment0.35 wRVU

    $22.04−$11.69

  • 92557

    Comprehensive hearing test, air, bone, and speech testing0.6 wRVU

    $35.74+$2.01

  • 92567

    Tympanometry, middle ear pressure and mobility0.2 wRVU

    $16.03−$17.70

How to choose

92587Otoacoustic emissionsLimited frequency assessment
Use 92588 for the comprehensive evaluation covering at least 12 frequencies with interpretation and a report; 92587 is the limited evaluation.
92557Comprehensive hearing testAir, bone, and speech testing
92557 assesses behavioral pure-tone and speech responses. 92588 measures otoacoustic emissions and is useful when behavioral responses are unavailable or unreliable.
92567TympanometryMiddle ear pressure and mobility
92567 measures middle-ear function with tympanometry; 92588 records cochlear emissions. They assess different parts of the auditory system.

92588 billing questions

How does this differ from 92587?

92588 is for a comprehensive evaluation covering at least 12 frequencies, with interpretation and a report. 92587 is the limited evaluation, generally covering 3–6 frequencies.

Can the professional and technical portions be billed separately?

Yes. Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the technical portion involving equipment and staff. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.

Should modifier 50 be reported?

No. CMS pricing already treats 92588 as bilateral, and modifier 50 does not increase payment.

What documentation supports the comprehensive service?

Keep the frequency-specific test results, evidence that the comprehensive frequency scope was performed, and the interpretation and report. The record should make clear that the service was more than a limited evaluation.

Is this the same as a behavioral hearing test?

No. Otoacoustic emission testing records cochlear responses to sound; behavioral audiometry measures responses from the patient and can establish hearing thresholds. The tests answer different clinical questions.

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

Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
RVUs for 92588PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 11,854 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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