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by Cochlear Guest Author

6 reasons to try new Cochlear™ CoPilot app

May 25, 2021
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Did you know that being actively involved in managing your hearing health can make a difference in your outcomes?1,2,3

Research shows that using information, tools and activities that are easy to use and understand, and that are shaped to individual needs, makes a difference.4

Digital tools are making this easier by providing patients with access to knowledge, tools and strategies to better manage their hearing loss. They can practice skills at home, track progress, build knowledge and achieve the outcomes that matter most. Cochlear™ CoPilot is our latest digital tool developed as a self-guided app designed for iPhone®.

The app features information from clinical experts and recipients, as well as interactive skill-building activities to help build listening confidence.

Here are six reasons to try Cochlear CoPilot:

Active practice can help

Our brains continue to change and adapt throughout our life as a result of experience.5,6,7 Adults can learn new skills, but often require focused attention or active practice to learn.8

Cochlear CoPilot has been designed with this in mind and features skill training to support auditory learning through active engagement and focused attention.

The app puts the patient in the driver’s seat

Self-managing hearing loss is shown to be one of the key components of successful rehabilitation.3 This is especially important as patients may not have access to hearing health experts 24/7.

As an app, CoPilot allows self-selected content and activities suited to personal needs and takes an active role in managing the hearing health journey at a pace that suits the patient.

It delivers content relevant to the individual

Because everyone’s hearing loss experience and life stage is different, rehabilitation is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, it should be shaped by  personal requirements – needs, interests, abilities and preferences.

Created with feedback

The app has been developed with input from people with cochlear implants –those who have recently had surgery, as well as those who have had their implant for many years.

This helps to ensure the app’s features and content are relevant to the real-world needs of everyone using the app. There are also personal stories, practical tips and support from others who are cochlear implant recipients.

The app updates with new features, information and activities that are relevant as the hearing journey progresses.

Engaging and easy for your patients to use

Cochlear CoPilot has been designed to be visually engaging, using plain language presented in easy-to-use chunks that focus on concrete actions and skills. It also features videos and interactive exercises to support adult learning.

The app is easy to use and simple to download, no matter age or level of comfort with technology.

It fits into your patients’ daily life

Cochlear CoPilot is designed to fit into the patients’ lifestyles. With everything in one place, it can be used whenever, wherever or while on the go at their own pace.

Get started today! Download Cochlear CoPilot for free from the Apple® App Store®.

References

1.Feste C, Anderson RM. Empowerment: from philosophy to practice. Patient Educ Couns. 1995;26(1-3):139-144. doi:10.1016/0738-3991(95)00730-n                                                                                                                                                              

2.Milijana Malmberg, Elisabet Sundewall Thorén, Marie Öberg, Thomas Lunner, Gerhard Andersson & Kim Kähäri (2018) Experiences of an Internet-based aural rehabilitation (IAR) program for hearing aid users: a qualitative study, International Journal of Audiology, 57:8, 570-576, DOI: 10.1080/14992027.2018.1453171

3. Convery E, Keidser G, Hickson L, Meyer C. The Relationship Between Hearing Loss Self-Management and Hearing Aid Benefit and Satisfaction. Am J Audiol. 2019;28(2):274-284. doi:10.1044/2018_AJA-18-0130

4.Caposecco A, Hickson L, Meyer C. Hearing aid user guides: suitability for older adults. Int J Audiol. 2014;53 01:S43–S51. [PubMed]

5. Anderson, S., & Kraus, N. (2013). Auditory training: Evidence for neural plasticity in older adults. SIG 6 Perspectives on Hearing and Hearing Disorders: Research and Diagnostics, 17, 37-57. https://doi.org/doi:10.1044/hhd17.1.37             

6. Zendel B, West GL, Belleville S, Peretz I (2019) Musical Training improves the ability to understand speech-in-noise in older adults . Neurobiology of aging. 81() 102-115 September                                                                                                                  

7. Pascual-Leone, A., Amedi, A., Fregni, F., & Merabet, L. B. (2005). The plastic human brain cortex. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 28, 377-401.

8. Drouin, J. R., & Theodore, R. M. (2020). Leveraging interdisciplinary perspectives to optimize auditory training for cochlear implant users. Language and Linguistics Compass. https://doi.org/10.1111/lnc3.12394 

ACE, Advance Off-Stylet, AOS, AutoNRT, Autosensitivity, Beam, Bring Back the Beat, Button, Carina, Cochlear, 科利耳, コクレア, 코클리어, Cochlear SoftWear, Codacs, Contour, Contour Advance, Custom Sound, ESPrit, Freedom, Hear now. And always, Hugfit, Hybrid, Invisible Hearing, Kanso, MET, MicroDrive, MP3000, myCochlear, mySmartSound, NRT, Nucleus, Outcome Focused Fitting, Off-Stylet, Slimline, SmartSound, Softip, SPrint, True Wireless, the elliptical logo, and Whisper are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Cochlear Limited. Ardium, Baha, Baha SoftWear, BCDrive, DermaLock, EveryWear, SoundArc, Vistafix, and WindShield are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Cochlear Bone Anchored Solutions AB.

For compatibility information visit www.cochlear.com/compatibility

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Cochlear Guest Author

In an effort to keep our content fresh and reflective of a diverse industry, Cochlear Americas features a mix of employees and professional partners to contribute to Cochlear ProNews as Guest Authors.

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CMS Issues CY2024 Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule: New Codes for Audiology Services Related to Bone Conduction Implants

August 31, 2023

On July 13, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that announces and solicits public comments on proposed policy changes for Medicare payments under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS), and other Medicare Part B proposals, effective on or after January 1, 2024.

By factors specified in law, overall payment rates under the PFS are proposed to be reduced by 1.25% in CY2024 compared to CY2023.  The proposed CY2024 PFS conversion factor is $32.75, a decrease of $1.14 (or 3.34%) from the current CY2023 conversion factor of $33.89. From an historical perspective, CMS originally finalized the CY2023 conversion factor at $33.06, a 4.47% cut from the CY2022 conversion factor. That cut was ultimately reversed by Congress and the CY2023 conversion factor increased to $33.89 as a direct result of passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, which included among other things, changes to the Medicare payment program, sequestration requirements, and coverage of telehealth services.   

CMS invites providers to communicate directly with the agency during an open comment period following the publication of the proposed rule.  This affords every provider an opportunity to voice an opinion on the proposed changes for the upcoming year.  While this notice focuses on two new procedure codes related to audiological services for implantable bone conduction hearing devices, Cochlear Americas encourages providers to engage with their professional societies for updates on advocacy efforts related to their specialties, practice implications, and participation opportunities.   Would you like to see permanent telehealth coverage to integrate this service into your current practice?  Have you dealt with claim denials for non-acute hearing services reported with the AB modifier? Bipartisan legislation, the Medicare Audiology Access Improvement of 2023, was just reintroduced to address these issues and more.  This is the time to shape the future of hearing care delivery.  For more information on the CY2024 proposed rule and how you can join the conversation, please visit any of the professional society’s websites (AAA, ADA , and ASHA).  

Auditory Osseointegrated Implant Services:

CMS proposed two new Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) codes to report services related to the diagnostic analysis, programming, and verification of an auditory osseointegrated sound processor.  As seen below, the placeholder ‘X’ is utilized until the final CPT code is published in the final rule, expected later this calendar year.  Additionally, CMS proposed acceptance of the Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC) recommended inputs for both work and direct practice expense components. In 2022, CMS published a list of audiological services for non-acute hearing conditions to which the AB modifier may be appended to indicate the provision of the service without a physician/nonphysician practitioner (NPP) referral.  CMS proposed to include both CPT 926X1 and 926X2 on this list of services in CY2024.

To share positions on any proposals made, providers may communicate with CMS during the public comment period.  To be assured consideration, comments must be received at one of the addresses provided below, no later than 5 p.m. on September 11, 2023.  Commenters may refer to file code CMS-1784-P and submit in one of the following three ways:

  • Electronically. You may submit electronic comments on this regulation to https://www.regulations.gov . Follow the “Submit a comment” instructions.
  • By regular mail. You may mail written comments to the following address ONLY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: CMS-1784-P, P.O. Box 8016, Baltimore, MD 21244-8016.
  • By express or overnight mail. You may send written comments to the following address ONLY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: CMS-1784-P, Mail Stop C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.

Cochlear Americas is pleased to partner with all hearing care professionals.  For more information, please visit our Reimbursement HUB, designed specifically for healthcare providers.

Before you go, please provide feedback on your initial impressions regarding the proposed rulings by completing this short survey. 

All specific references to CPT codes and descriptions are ©2023 American Medical Association. All rights reserved. CPT is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association. CPT and CPT material are copyrights of American Medical Association (AMA): CPT Copyright 2020 American Medical Association, all rights reserved. CPT is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association. 

reimbursement

Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) Final Rule Calendar Year (CY) 2021

January 4, 2021

On December 1, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released their final rule on the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS). The changes and new rates outlined in this regulation become effective on January 1, 2021.

Conversion Factor and CY2021 Payment Rates

CMS uses conversion factors to calculate MPFS payment rates. CMS finalized the conversion factor (CF) for CY 2021 at $32.41, this is a decrease of $3.68 or 10.20% from the CY 2020 CF.

  • The payment reductions are a result of the payment increase in relative value units (RVU) for many Evaluation and Management (E/M) services.
  • CMS increased the RVUs to reflect the increasing payment rate of E/M and outpatient visits associated with the growth in Medicare enrollment and ensures clinicians are paid appropriately for the time they spend coordinating care for patients.
  • This decision led to negative revenue impacts on several physician specialty groups due to the budget neutrality requirement. 

Both American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and American Academy of Audiology (AAA) worked with the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) to provide recommendations to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to address the specialties’ concerns with the proposed increase in RVUs for E/M services (along with many other physician groups), however CMS declined to waive the budget neutrality requirements.

A comparison of 2020 and 2021 national average rates for various audiology and surgical services related to hearing implants are as follows:

New and Updated CPT Codes

Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential (VEMP) Testing

CMS finalized four new CPT codes to report VEMP testing, which audiologists previously reported using an unlisted CPT code. The following new CPT codes for VEMP testing became effective January 1, 2021:

  • 92517, Cervical (cVEMP) testing;
  • 92518, Ocular (oVEMP) testing;
  • 92519, cVEMP and oVEMP testing

Auditory Evoked Potential (AEP) Testing

CMS also finalized four new services/codes under auditory evoked potentials. The CPT codes 92585 and 92586 are deleted December 31, 2020. The following new CPT codes for AEP testing became effective January 1, 2021:

  • 92650, auditory evoked potentials, screening of auditory potential
  • 92651, auditory evoked potential hearing status determination
  • 92652, auditory evoked potential, threshold estimating multiple frequencies
  • 92653, auditory evoked potential, neurodiagnostic T

Please note that CMS considers CPT code 92650 a screening code and does not cover screenings but published the total relative value units (RVUs) for the code. CPT 92650 may be used by Medicaid programs and commercial insurers.

Telehealth Services

CMS addressed telehealth services in the final rule, however CMS lacks the statutory authority to allow Audiologist and SLPs to continue to bill for telehealth services once the Public Health Emergency (PHE) ends.  During the PHE, CMS will continue to cover remote programming of cochlear implants for audiologists.

Please visit your society websites for additional information on the changes implemented in the MPFS Final Rule Calendar Year (CY) 2021.

For a full list of CPT Codes and Medicare Rates, please see ASHA’s analysis of the 2021 MPFS that outlines the national average payment amounts for audiologists.

CPT and CPT material are copyrights of American Medical Association (AMA): CPT copyright 2020 American Medical Association, all rights reserved. CPT is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association. Information is provided as guidelines only to address the unique nature of implantable hearing solutions technology. This information does not constitute reimbursement or legal advice. Cochlear Americas makes no representation or warranty regarding this information or its completeness, accuracy, fitness for any purpose, timeliness, or that following these guidelines will result in any form of coverage or reimbursement from any insurance company or federal health care program payer. The information presented herein is subject to change at any time. This information cannot and does not contemplate all situations that a health care professional may encounter. To be sure that you have the most current and applicable information available for your unique circumstances, please consult your own experts and seek your own legal advice regarding your reimbursement and coding needs and the proper implementation of these guidelines. All products should be used according to their labeling. In all cases, services billed must be medically necessary, actually performed, and appropriately documented in the medical record.

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©Cochlear Limited 2024. All rights reserved. ACE, Advance Off-Stylet, AOS, Ardium, AutoNRT, Autosensitivity, Baha, Baha SoftWear, BCDrive, Beam, Bring Back the Beat, Button, Carina, Cochlear, 科利耳, コクレア, 코클리어, Cochlear SoftWear, Contour, コントゥア, Contour Advance, Custom Sound, DermaLock, Freedom, Hear now. And always, Hugfit, Human Design, Hybrid, Invisible Hearing, Kanso, LowPro, MET, MP3000, myCochlear, mySmartSound, NRT, Nucleus, Osia, Outcome Focused Fitting, Off-Stylet, Piezo Power, Profile, Slimline, SmartSound, Softip, SoundArc, True Wireless, the elliptical logo, Vistafix, Whisper, WindShield and Xidium are either trademarks or registered trademarks of the Cochlear group of companies. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

 

This material is intended for health professionals. If you are a consumer, please seek advice from your health professional about treatments for hearing loss. Outcomes may vary, and your health professional will advise you about the factors which could affect your outcome. Always read the instructions for use. Not all products are available in all countries. Please contact your local Cochlear representative for product information.

 

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