92522 Speech evaluation Medicare reimbursement rates in Vermont

A speech-language pathologist uses this evaluation to assess how a patient produces speech sounds, including patterns of sound substitutions or omissions, reduced intelligibility, and motor-speech difficulties such as apraxia or dysarthria. The assessment may include structured tasks and speech samples suited to the patient’s age and communication abilities. It is commonly performed in an outpatient speech-language pathology clinic, hospital outpatient department, or physician office when a patient has concerns such as persistent speech sound errors or impaired intelligibility.

Report 92522 when the documented evaluation focuses on speech sound production. The record should identify the communication concern, assessment findings, functional effects, and clinical conclusions supporting the need for care. Use 92523 when the evaluation also includes language comprehension and expression; a fluency-focused or voice-focused evaluation is represented by a different code. This is a therapy service, so a professional-component modifier does not apply. Under the CMS therapy multiple procedure payment reduction, practice expense is reduced for the second and later therapy units furnished on the same day.