Medicare_Benefit_Policy_Manual / Chapter_15 / 80.3

Article Overview

This article summarizes Medicare policy for diagnostic testing by qualified audiologists, including hearing and balance assessment services, and explains the circumstances under which those services are treated as covered diagnostic tests. It also addresses the role of physician orders or referrals, general payment framework, and coverage exclusions tied to when testing is not medically needed for diagnostic evaluation. The content is relevant to audiologists, physicians, hospital outpatient departments, and billing staff who work with Medicare diagnostic service claims.