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Billing code 92587: Otoacoustic emissionsMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports a limited-frequency otoacoustic emissions assessment used to evaluate cochlear response when confirming or investigating suspected hearing disorder, often alongside audiologic testing.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities37.2K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $22.04 for 92587 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $20.35–$28.22.

Medicare rate · 92587

Otoacoustic emissions

Work RVUs
0.35
Total RVUs
0.66
Global days
XXX

National rate · 2026

$22.04

Office setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 92587 →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 92587 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 92587 covers

This test measures otoacoustic emissions, sounds generated by the inner ear in response to an acoustic stimulus delivered through a probe in the ear canal. An audiologist commonly performs it in an office or hospital audiology department as part of a hearing evaluation, including assessment of patients who cannot provide reliable behavioral responses. The limited evaluation samples 3 to 6 frequencies and supports assessment of cochlear function; it does not provide behavioral hearing thresholds.

Report 92587 for the limited-frequency evaluation, with documentation of the clinical reason, test method, frequencies assessed, findings, and interpretation. The code includes an interpretation and report. CMS recognizes professional and technical components: report modifier 26 for the interpretation, modifier TC for equipment and staff, or neither modifier for the global service. The code is priced as bilateral, so modifier 50 does not increase payment. A broader frequency evaluation is represented by 92588.

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 92587 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

$20.35 to $28.22

$20.35$24.29$28.22
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

92587 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Alabama$20.54Unavailable
Alaska*$28.22Unavailable
Arizona$21.65Unavailable
Arkansas$20.35Unavailable
Atlanta$22.37Unavailable
Austin$22.55Unavailable
Bakersfield$22.94Unavailable
Baltimore/Surr. Cntys$23.10Unavailable
Beaumont$21.13Unavailable
Brazoria$21.90Unavailable

92587 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

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.

$20.35

$28.22

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

View every state and territory as a table
92587 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$28.221
AL$20.541
AR$20.351
AZ$21.651
CA$22.86–$27.3029
CO$22.661
CT$23.161
DC$24.481
DE$21.921
FL$21.95–$23.463
GA$21.13–$22.372
GU$23.091
HI$23.091
IA$20.821
ID$20.921
IL$21.58–$23.044
IN$20.991
KS$20.781
KY$20.911
LA$20.90–$21.562
MA$22.61–$24.332
MD$22.22–$24.483
ME$21.02–$21.712
MI$21.29–$22.162
MN$21.861
MO$20.69–$21.583
MS$20.521
MT$22.041
NC$21.151
ND$21.651
NE$20.881
NH$22.361
NJ$23.47–$24.382
NM$21.371
NV$21.941
NY$21.36–$25.205
OH$21.211
OK$20.861
OR$21.81–$23.142
PA$21.21–$22.782
PR$22.141
RI$22.511
SC$21.211
SD$21.601
TN$20.851
TX$21.13–$22.558
UT$21.401
VA$21.68–$24.482
VI$22.141
VT$21.621
WA$22.55–$24.712
WI$21.181
WV$21.061
WY$21.871

How the 92587 rate is calculated

Each of 92587’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 · 92587

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Work0.35

0.35 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense0.29

0.29 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.02

0.02 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

0.6600

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$22.04

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 92587

The CMS indicators that decide how 92587 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 92587

Otoacoustic emissions

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

92587 without 26 · national office

$22.04

Otoacoustic emissions

92587-26 · Professional component

$18.37

Pays only the interpretation and report.

When to use modifier 26

92587 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

  • 92587

    Otoacoustic emissions0.35 wRVU

    $22.04

  • 92588

    Otoacoustic emissions0.55 wRVU

    $33.73+$11.69

  • 92558

    Not on the physician fee schedule0.17 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 92557

    Comprehensive hearing test0.6 wRVU

    $35.74+$13.70

How to choose

92588Otoacoustic emissions
92587 represents the limited evaluation of 3 to 6 frequencies. Choose 92588 for a comprehensive or diagnostic evoked otoacoustic emissions evaluation.
92558Evoked auditory test qual
92558 is for automated evoked otoacoustic emissions screening. 92587 is the limited assessment used to confirm or investigate a hearing disorder and includes interpretation and a report.
92557Comprehensive hearing test
92557 is a comprehensive hearing test using audiometric procedures, not an otoacoustic emissions assessment. Report 92587 only when the separate emissions service is also performed.

Codes related to 92587

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

Codes related to 92587
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
92588Otoacoustic emissionsSibling code for a comprehensive or diagnostic evoked otoacoustic emissions evaluation.$31.34–$43.58
Used instead
92558Evoked auditory test qualAutomated evoked otoacoustic emissions screening when a screening service is performed.No office rate
Often billed with
92557Comprehensive hearing testComprehensive hearing testing may be performed and reported separately during the same evaluation.$33.41–$46.61
92567TympanometryTympanometry may accompany otoacoustic emissions testing during an audiologic evaluation.$14.60–$20.60

92587 billing questions

How do I choose between 92587 and 92588?

Use 92587 for the limited evaluation of 3 to 6 frequencies. Use 92588 when the service is a comprehensive or diagnostic evaluation rather than the limited assessment.

Is this code reported for one ear or both?

CMS prices 92587 as bilateral. Modifier 50 does not increase payment.

When should modifier 26 or TC be used?

Use modifier 26 for the professional interpretation and modifier TC for the technical service, including equipment and staff. Report the code without either modifier for the global service.

Does the code include interpretation and a report?

Yes. The limited evoked otoacoustic emissions service includes interpretation and a report; documentation should support the test performed and its findings.

Can 92587 be reported with a comprehensive hearing test?

It may be reported with 92557 when both the limited otoacoustic emissions assessment and the comprehensive hearing test are performed and documented as distinct services.

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 92587PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 11,851 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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