Often Posed Questions (and Answers) Regarding Medicare, Contracting, and Non-Hearing Aid Services
Semin Hear 2019; 40: 253-259 DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1693492Medicare Part B provider participation is often met with grumbling and disdain by most health care providers, including audiologists. Other pain points for audiologists likely include insurance contracts, third-party administrators, and the unknown of the future. The dynamic landscape that will include technology and delivery systems was, until recently, mere thoughts on paper and in conference rooms. With the moderate amount of misunderstanding about Medicare and contracting rules among the members of the profession, it is this article's intent to dispel these Medica...
Source: Seminars in Hearing - August 12, 2019 Category: Audiology Authors: Abel, Debra Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
Gaining Greater Adherence from Patients for Amplification
This article will discuss common objections that patients voice each day to obtaining amplification and will offer possible solutions. [...] Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.Article in Thieme eJournals: Table of contents  |  Abstract  |  Full text (Source: Seminars in Hearing)
Source: Seminars in Hearing - August 12, 2019 Category: Audiology Authors: Kasewurm, Gyl A. Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
Resale Product and Accessory Opportunities for Audiology Practices
Semin Hear 2019; 40: 232-244 DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1693448Patients need and/or want access to any number of products, including consumables and durable goods, and accessories as part of their audiology care. Audiologists have an opportunity to offer products and accessories for resale from their clinical office. Several methods for reselling items to established patients including an overview of an ecommerce approach successfully implemented by several individual audiology private practices will be reviewed. Upon completion, readers will be familiar with the general steps for incorporating an e-shop within an existing busine...
Source: Seminars in Hearing - August 12, 2019 Category: Audiology Authors: Bankaitis Smith, A. U. Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
Making a Good Hire
This article discusses the interviewing and onboarding process to shift the odds positively in the direction of making a lasting, good hire. [...] Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.Article in Thieme eJournals: Table of contents  |  Abstract  |  Full text (Source: Seminars in Hearing)
Source: Seminars in Hearing - August 12, 2019 Category: Audiology Authors: Gregory, Laurel Clark, Deborah Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
What Gets Measured Gets Done: Calculating the Value of Professional Service
This article focuses on providing a straightforward method for calculating revenue per clinical hour required to maintain quality, professionally driven, and profitable care in the hearing aid diagnostic, selection, fitting, and follow-up process. Furthermore, by measuring the value of clinical service, it uncouples the professional from the technology, and provides a tool for assessing how they can improve clinical efficiencies without compromising best practice or clinical outcomes. [...] Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.Article in Thieme eJournals: Table of contents  |  AbstractÂ...
Source: Seminars in Hearing - August 12, 2019 Category: Audiology Authors: Fabry, Dave Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
Third-Party Payers …. The Silver Bullet?
Semin Hear 2019; 40: 207-213 DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1693490Healthcare reform brought about many changes in the healthcare industry including the hearing aid delivery model. Third-party payers (TPPs) became a growing trend with health insurance companies. The traditional hearing aid delivery model changed from provider and patient to provider, TPP, and patient. Due to the insertion of this middle man, profit can be diminished from the hearing aid sale, along with processes. Based on this decrease in revenue, decisions need to be made if using a TPP is profitable or even affordable for a clinic. Recent polls indicate more than ...
Source: Seminars in Hearing - August 12, 2019 Category: Audiology Authors: Gosalia, Amit Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
Tools for Success in Private Practice
Semin Hear 2019; 40: 205-206 DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1693447 Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.Article in Thieme eJournals: Table of contents  |  Full text (Source: Seminars in Hearing)
Source: Seminars in Hearing - August 12, 2019 Category: Audiology Authors: Kasewurm, Gyl Tags: Preface Source Type: research
Mechanisms of Cisplatin-Induced Ototoxicity and Prevention
Semin Hear 2019; 40: 197-204 DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1684048Cisplatin is a highly effective antineoplastic agent used to treat solid tumors. Unfortunately, the administration of this drug leads to significant side effects, including ototoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and neurotoxicity. This review addresses the mechanisms of cisplatin-induced ototoxicity and various strategies tested to prevent this distressing adverse effect. The molecular pathways underlying cisplatin ototoxicity are still being investigated. Cisplatin enters targeted cells in the cochlea through the action of several transporters. Once it enters the cochlea, cisp...
Source: Seminars in Hearing - April 25, 2019 Category: Audiology Authors: Rybak, Leonard P. Mukherjea, Debashree Ramkumar, Vickram Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
Coding and Reimbursement for Cochleotoxicity and Vestibulotoxicity Services
Semin Hear 2019; 40: 188-196 DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1684047Because of the ICD-10 disease coding system transition that occurred in the United States in 2015, coding and billing for services on behalf of patients who experience cochlear and/or vestibular toxicity may be daunting and misunderstood. Coding and billing for any audiology procedure can be compelling; choosing the appropriate codes for these specific patients is critical not only for payment for services rendered but also for the national and global implications, given their utilization is tracked for mortality and morbidity statistics and potential policies. [...] ...
Source: Seminars in Hearing - April 25, 2019 Category: Audiology Authors: Abel, Debra Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
Ototoxicity: Visualized in Concept Maps
Semin Hear 2019; 40: 177-187 DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1684046Ototoxicity refers to the damage to structures and function of the auditory-vestibular system caused by exogenous agents such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and ionizing radiation. There are many potentially ototoxic substances. For example, depending on how ototoxicity is defined, there are 200 to 600 medications that can cause damage to hearing and/or balance. Ototoxicity encompasses cochleotoxicity, vestibulotoxicity, and neurotoxicity. A variety of professional disciplines are involved in determining causation, prevention, and management of ototoxic effects. Resea...
Source: Seminars in Hearing - April 25, 2019 Category: Audiology Authors: Watts, Kelly L. Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
Otoprotectants: From Research to Clinical Application
Semin Hear 2019; 40: 162-176 DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1684045There is an urgent need for otoprotective drug agents. Prevention of noise-induced hearing loss continues to be a major challenge for military personnel and workers in a variety of industries despite the requirements that at-risk individuals use hearing protection devices such as ear plugs or ear muffs. Drug-induced hearing loss is also a major quality-of-life issue with many patients experiencing clinically significant hearing loss as a side effect of treatment with life-saving drug agents such as cisplatin and aminoglycoside antibiotics. There are no pharmaceutical ...
Source: Seminars in Hearing - April 25, 2019 Category: Audiology Authors: Le Prell, Colleen G. Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
Pediatric Ototoxicity: Current Trends and Management
Semin Hear 2019; 40: 154-161 DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1684044Medical interventions to combat serious infection or malignancies carry significant morbidities, including ototoxicity. While these lifesaving drugs are often necessary to preserve life, the impact on quality of life for survivors is increasingly concerning for families and healthcare providers. Of primary importance for medical prescribers are appropriately sensitive ototoxicity grading scales and audiological monitoring protocols for surveillance for hearing loss. The intent of grading scales is to help communicate complicated audiological information to non-audiolo...
Source: Seminars in Hearing - April 25, 2019 Category: Audiology Authors: Fligor, Brian J. Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
Vestibular Toxicity: Causes, Evaluation Protocols, Intervention, and Management
Semin Hear 2019; 40: 144-153 DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1684043The loss of vestibular function, typically bilateral, due to chemical solvents and pharmacological agents is not rare and has been investigated and reported for many years. The successful treatment of bacterial infections and sepsis with IV antibiotics and cancer-fighting drugs like cisplatin makes the decision to use these life-saving drugs less of a debate, despite their potential deleterious effect on balance and equilibrium. The purpose of this article is to provide the reader with an overview of the more common substances found in industry and medicine which may ...
Source: Seminars in Hearing - April 25, 2019 Category: Audiology Authors: Gans, Richard E. Rauterkus, Grant Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
Monitoring Protocols for Cochlear Toxicity
This article will review tests available to an audiologist, both subjective and objective, that can be used to effectively monitor hearing levels and auditory function during treatment. Published guidelines and various ototoxic monitoring protocols are reviewed regarding tests administered, what constitutes a significant change in test results and how these findings are reported, and the impact significant changes may have on the course of treatment. Test protocols from different institutions are compared for both similarities and contrasts. Effective scheduling and test location are key to a successful monitoring program....
Source: Seminars in Hearing - April 25, 2019 Category: Audiology Authors: Lord, Sherman G. Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
A Review of Cisplatin-Associated Ototoxicity
Semin Hear 2019; 40: 108-121 DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1684041Cisplatin, an effective antineoplastic drug used in the treatment of many cancers, has ototoxic potential, thus placing cancer patients, receiving this treatment, at risk of hearing loss. It is therefore important for health care professionals managing these patients to be aware of cisplatin's ototoxic properties and its clinical signs to identify patients at risk of developing a hearing impairment. Eighty-five English peer-reviewed articles and two books, from January 1975 to July 2015, were identified from PubMed, ScienceDirect, and EBSCOhost. An overview of cisplat...
Source: Seminars in Hearing - April 25, 2019 Category: Audiology Authors: Paken, Jessica Govender, Cyril D. Pillay, Mershen Sewram, Vikash Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
