Washington, DC - June 23, 2011 - Today, the American Academy of Audiology received notification that they have been awarded a seat on the American Medical Association (AMA) Current Procedural Terminology/Health Care Professionals Advisory Committee (CPT/HCPAC). The CPT/HCPAC is a panel of specialty societies charged with facilitating the review and development of applications for CPT codes used by qualified non-physician health care professionals.
Previously, both audiology and speech pathology were represented on the CPT/HCPAC by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), but it has been the Academy's position that audiology and speech pathology are two separate professions that deserve distinct representation. The Panel accepted this request.
The profession now has greater representation and a larger stake in decisions made that ultimately impact reimbursement to audiologists for covered Medicare services.
"This is a historic day for audiology and for the Academy," said Patricia B. Kricos, PhD, Academy President, "That the distinguished members of the CPT Editorial Panel and the CPT/HCPAC recognize the importance of audiology's voice and that the Academy is the home of that voice is an important step forward for the profession."
