SLP Billing & Coding Guidelines

LifeCare policy is to ensure that all therapy services rendered and billed meet Medicare regulatory requirements. While SLP codes are untimed, we do want to ensure that we do not abuse this and bill charges that may result in an audit of our billing practices by Medicare.  

1. The speech and language evaluation code (92523) includes a general assessment of all speech/language/voice/cognitive skills and is commonly used for LifeCare patients. For many LifeCare patients, there is not a true vocal fold dysfunction or 'voice only' disorder, and the causes of the voice difficulties are due to the neurological and cognitive functioning of the patient which appropriately fall under this billing code.

   
   

2. Unless there is a specific diagnosis of a "voice only" disorder such as spasmodic dysphonia or vocal fold paralysis, do not bill the Voice Evaluation Code (92524).

   
   

3. Billing should generally follow the Medicare 15-minute rule which means that within one hour of service, no more than 4 units can be billed.