Billing code 92571: Speech testMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports audiologic testing that presents filtered speech to assess speech recognition when portions of the speech signal are reduced.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities6.2K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $31.06 for 92571 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $26.57–$44.49.

Medicare rate · 92571

Speech test

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
0
Total RVUs
0.93
Global days
XXX

National rate · 2026

$31.06

Office setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 92571 → · 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.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 92571 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 92571 covers

An audiologist typically presents speech with selected frequency information reduced and evaluates the patient’s ability to recognize it. The test can help characterize speech understanding beyond routine pure-tone thresholds, including in an audiology workup for reported hearing or speech-recognition difficulty. It is performed in an audiology setting using auditory test equipment and speech materials.

Report 92571 for the filtered-speech testing itself, supported by documentation of the test performed and its results. CMS identifies this as a technical-component-only service; interpretation is represented by a separate code. The CMS fee schedule treats the service as bilateral, so modifier 50 does not increase payment. Distinguish it from speech-threshold testing and broader speech audiometry by the filtered stimulus and test purpose, rather than reporting it for ordinary word-recognition testing.

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 92571 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

$26.57 to $44.49

$26.57$35.53$44.49
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

92571 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Alabama$27.08Unavailable
Alaska*$32.91Unavailable
Arizona$30.06Unavailable
Arkansas$26.57Unavailable
Atlanta$31.62Unavailable
Austin$32.81Unavailable
Bakersfield$33.88Unavailable
Baltimore/Surr. Cntys$33.39Unavailable
Beaumont$28.27Unavailable
Brazoria$30.71Unavailable

92571 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.

$26.57

$39.18

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

View every state and territory as a table
92571 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$32.911
AL$27.081
AR$26.571
AZ$30.061
CA$33.86–$44.4929
CO$32.961
CT$33.501
DC$36.571
DE$30.661
FL$29.88–$32.833
GA$27.81–$31.622
GU$35.131
HI$35.131
IA$28.251
ID$28.431
IL$28.58–$32.154
IN$28.651
KS$27.951
KY$27.621
LA$27.51–$29.302
MA$32.62–$36.992
MD$31.40–$36.573
ME$28.48–$30.662
MI$28.43–$30.222
MN$31.721
MO$26.81–$29.593
MS$26.701
MT$31.061
NC$28.881
ND$30.861
NE$28.491
NH$32.281
NJ$33.92–$36.002
NM$28.581
NV$31.041
NY$29.43–$37.165
OH$28.391
OK$27.701
OR$30.84–$34.392
PA$28.52–$32.392
PR$31.401
RI$32.041
SC$28.681
SD$30.841
TN$28.111
TX$28.27–$32.818
UT$29.191
VA$30.44–$36.572
VI$31.401
VT$30.591
WA$32.61–$37.982
WI$29.541
WV$27.181
WY$30.981

How the 92571 rate is calculated

Each of 92571’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 · 92571

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 0.00Practice expense 0.92Malpractice 0.01

0.9300 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$31.06

All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 92571

The CMS indicators that decide how 92571 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 92571

Speech test

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/technical3Technical component only.

92571 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

92571 vs 92556 vs 92572 vs 92555: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 92571
    Speech test · 0 wRVU
    $31.06
  • 92556
    Speech audiometry · 0 wRVU
    $46.43+$15.37
  • 92572
    Speech processing test · 0 wRVU
    $60.46+$29.40
  • 92555
    Speech audiometry · 0 wRVU
    $29.73−$1.33

How to choose

92556Speech audiometry
92556 covers speech audiometry, including speech recognition testing; 92571 is specifically filtered-speech testing.
92572Speech processing test
92572 is the staggered spondaic word test. It uses a different speech-test method from the filtered stimuli used for 92571.
92555Speech audiometry
92555 measures speech thresholds. It is not the filtered-speech recognition test reported with 92571.

92571 billing questions

How does 92571 differ from complete speech audiometry?

92571 is for testing with filtered speech. Use 92556 for speech audiometry that measures speech recognition and related thresholds using its standard test materials.

Does 92571 include interpretation?

No. CMS identifies 92571 as technical-component-only; a separate code covers interpretation.

Should modifier 50 be appended when both ears are tested?

The CMS fee schedule treats 92571 as bilateral, and modifier 50 does not increase payment.

What documentation supports reporting 92571?

Document that filtered-speech testing was performed and record the test results. The documentation should distinguish this procedure from routine speech audiometry.

Is 92571 the same test as the staggered spondaic word test?

No. 92571 uses filtered speech; 92572 is the staggered spondaic word test, a distinct speech test.

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 92571PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 11,842 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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