CPT code 92618: AAC device evaluation, additional 30 minutes2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California

CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 92618 in California.

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

What 92618 covers

Code 92618 represents additional evaluation time for selecting or prescribing a non-speech-generating augmentative and alternative communication device. A speech-language pathologist typically assesses how a patient communicates and which device features or access methods may support communication. Examples include communication boards or books that convey messages without generating speech. The evaluation is generally provided face to face with the patient in a clinical or rehabilitation setting.

This CPT add-on code is reported with 92605, the primary code for the initial evaluation hour; each unit of 92618 represents an additional 30 minutes. Medicare assigns status B under the physician fee schedule, meaning the code is never paid separately and its payment is included in payment for other services. It must be billed with the primary procedure and falls within that procedure's global period.

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 92618 pays more and less in California

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

29 of 29 payment localities

How the 92618 rate is calculated

Each of 92618’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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 92618

The CMS indicators that decide how 92618 is paid alongside other services.

92618 compared with similar codes

How to choose

92605AAC evaluationNon-speech device

92605 covers the initial hour of evaluating a patient for a non-speech-generating AAC device. Use 92618 only for additional evaluation time.

92608Speech device evaluationEach additional 30 minutes

92608 reports additional evaluation time for a speech-generating AAC device; 92618 is for a non-speech-generating device.

92606AAC device therapyNon-speech-generating

92606 describes services for use of a non-speech-generating device, while 92618 covers additional time spent evaluating the patient for one.

Codes related to 92618

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

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

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates