Skip to main content

Hearing Device Benefits for Texas Medicaid Will Change on June 1, 2023

Last updated on

Note: Texas Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) must provide all medically necessary, Medicaid-covered services to Medicaid members who are enrolled in their MCO. Administrative procedures, such as prior authorization, precertification, referrals, and claims and encounter data filing, may differ from traditional Medicaid (fee-for-service) and from MCO to MCO. Providers should contact the member’s specific MCO for details.

Effective for dates of service on or after June 1, 2023, hearing device benefits will change for Texas Medicaid.

Overview of Benefit Changes

Major changes to the medical benefits include the following:

  • Update to the minimum age limitation for cochlear implants
  • Clarification of current replacement battery limitations
  • Expanded benefit information for auditory brainstem implant (ABI) batteries

Cochlear Implants

The age limitation for cochlear implant devices will change from 12 months of age or older to 9 months of age or older.

Replacement Batteries

Replacement batteries (procedure codes L8621, L8622, L8623, L8624, and V5266) are currently limited as follows for clients who received a cochlear implant, bone-anchored hearing device, or hearing aid through Texas Medicaid:

  • Cochlear implant—The client must have a cochlear implant procedure, device, or supply that has been billed within the past five rolling years.
  • Bone-anchored hearing device—The client must have a hearing device that has been billed within the past five rolling years.
  • Hearing aid—The client must have a hearing aid that has been billed within the past five rolling years.

Batteries for Auditory Brainstem Implants

Nonrechargeable batteries do not require prior authorization and are currently limited as follows:

  • Zinc air batteries (procedure code L8621)—a maximum of 50 per month
  • Alkaline batteries (procedure code L8622)—a maximum of 31 per month

Note: Procedure codes L8621 and L8622 must be billed with modifier LT or RT. Since an ABI is not ear-specific, both procedure codes may be billed with either modifier, but a modifier is required.

Additional batteries exceeding the maximum number per month are considered for coverage through prior authorization based on medical necessity. Documentation that supports the need for additional batteries must be submitted with the prior authorization request.

Replacement batteries for an ABI are limited to clients with an ABI surgical procedure, device, or replacement part that has been billed within the past five rolling years. Replacement batteries for clients who did not receive the ABI through Texas Medicaid will be considered for reimbursement on appeal with a physician’s statement documenting medical necessity.

For more information, call the TMHP Contact Center at 800-925-9126.