CommercialCoverageMedium impact
11.01.06i, Bone-Anchored (Osseointegrated) Hearing Aids and Implantable Middle Ear Hearing Aids
Independence Blue Cross·Audiology, ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat)·Medical Policy
Effective date
May 28, 2025
We identified it
Jun 19, 2026
Summary
Independence Blue Cross reissued policy 11.01.06j (effective 05/28/2025) to communicate its continuing position on bone-anchored (osseointegrated) hearing aids and implantable middle ear hearing aids. The policy maintains coverage for FDA-approved bone-anchored hearing aids as medically necessary alternatives to air-conduction hearing aids for conductive/mixed hearing loss and single-sided sensorineural deafness when specific audiologic criteria are met, while implantable middle ear hearing aids remain classified as experimental/investigational and not covered.
Action Required
By 05/28/2025: Billing team must verify that claims processing systems correctly route bone-anchored hearing aid claims (CPT 69714, 69716, 69717 and HCPCS L8690, L8692, L8618, L8624, L8625) as medically necessary when submitted with documented audiologic criteria and appropriate ICD-10 diagnosis codes. Ensure that implantable middle ear hearing aid claims are flagged as experimental/investigational and denied. Verify member benefits for hearing aids before processing, noting that state mandates do not automatically apply to self-funded groups. Update denial reason codes in billing system to reflect that implantable middle ear devices are contract exclusions. Prior authorization requirements should be verified per individual group benefit contracts.