Billing code 92596: Ear protectionMedicare rate & RVUs in Oregon
An audiologist evaluates ear protectors, such as plugs or earmuffs, for patients who need hearing protection in occupational, recreational, or other noisy settings.
Medicare pays $77.75–$86.71 for 92596 in the office in Oregon, from Rest Of Oregon to Portland. Which amount applies depends on the service address.
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 9 sections
What 92596 covers
An audiologist evaluates ear protectors for a person who needs protection from hazardous or otherwise excessive sound. The service may involve assessing the suitability and fit of plugs or earmuffs for the patient’s intended use, such as workplace noise exposure or loud music. It is distinct from testing hearing thresholds and from evaluating devices that amplify sound. Audiology practices and hearing-conservation settings are typical places for this service.
Report 92596 for the ear-protector evaluation itself, with documentation identifying the protection need and the evaluation performed. CMS classifies the code as technical-component-only; a separate code covers interpretation. The code is priced as bilateral, so modifier 50 does not increase payment. Do not treat the service as a hearing aid evaluation or substitute a hearing test code when the documented work is evaluation of protective devices.
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 92596 pays more and less in Oregon
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Portland | $86.71 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Oregon | $77.75 | Unavailable |
How the 92596 rate is calculated
Each of 92596’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 · 92596
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 0.00Practice expense 2.33Malpractice 0.01
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 92596
The CMS indicators that decide how 92596 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 92596
Ear protection
| 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. |
92596 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
92596 vs 92552 vs 92597: national Medicare rates
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How to choose
92596 billing questions
When should 92596 be reported instead of a hearing test code?
Report 92596 when the service evaluates ear protectors, such as plugs or earmuffs. Use an audiometry code when the documented service measures hearing rather than evaluates protection.
Is 92596 billed for one ear or both?
CMS prices 92596 as bilateral. Modifier 50 does not increase payment.
Can a professional component be billed for 92596?
CMS classifies 92596 as technical-component-only, with interpretation covered by a separate code. The code itself does not represent a professional component.
What documentation supports 92596?
Document the patient’s need for hearing protection, the ear protectors evaluated, and the evaluation performed. The record should make clear that the service concerns protective devices rather than hearing amplification.
Can audiometry be reported at the same encounter?
A separately performed hearing test may be reported under its applicable code when documented. The ear-protector evaluation and the hearing measurement are 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
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