Services & Support
by Michaela Coon

5 online learnings for your clinical armamentarium

March 26, 2020
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Whether at home or in the clinic, these online learnings can help you stay current on relevant topics:

Cochlear webinars

Discover educational webinars delivered live by experts in the field of hearing implants discussing a wide variety of topics such as:

  • Advancements in CI: A data driven perspective
  • The Cochlear™ Osia® System
  • The Profile™ Plus Implant

AudiologyOnline courses

AudiologyOnline courses provide educational options for hearing care professionals to increase their clinical knowledge and skills. Our courses include:

  • Benefits Afforded by Precurved Electrode Arrays: Speech and Auditory Perception for Adult Cochlear Implant Recipients
  • Setting a New Benchmark with the Slim Modiolar Electrode
  • Bone Conduction Solutions for Children with Conductive, Mixed or Unilateral Hearing Loss

AudiologyOnline interviews

AudiologyOnline interviews provide an in-depth look at clinical topics in Q&A format from various professionals. Recent interviews include:

  •   Introducing the Baha® Lend an Ear Program
  •   Non-Surgical Baha® Options for Children: Key Considerations
  •   Introducing Cochlear™ Nucleus® 7 Sound Processor with Expanded Connectivity

Cochlear NEXT CI532 study discussion

In Spring 2019, sixty-five otology and audiology professionals came together for Cochlear NEXT, a program focused on discussion regarding Cochlear’s CI532 Clinical Study and the respective implications of this emerging and impactful data. This video series captures the highlights of the day’s presentations with a focus on the surgical and clinical outcomes of the CI532 Clinical Study.

TECH Talk videos

TECH Talks is a peer-to-peer educational video series designed for professionals to hear the latest from experts in the field of implantable hearing solutions. Videos include:

  •  Dr. Friedmann – The Slim Modiolar Electrode
  •  Dr. Kaplan – Reliability Reporting
  •  Dr. Ittner – Cochlear Mini Microphone 2+

For more helpful hints, subscribe to the Cochlear ProNews to stay up to date on the latest educational opportunities.

Related Posts
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New OMS forms required as of October 1

September 4, 2020

By Nicole Craig, Senior Manager of Managed Care and Market Access, Cochlear Americas

Otologic Management Services (OMS) request forms have been updated to include the launch of the new Osia® System.  Use of these forms will allow providers to submit requests for any product, as well as streamline compliant communication between parties.

A division of Cochlear Americas, OMS is a dedicated team of reimbursement specialists who are available at no cost to help clinicians and their patients obtain the necessary pre-surgical insurance approvals, or support appeals where coverage is denied for Cochlear’s Nucleus®, Baha® and Osia Systems for medically qualified candidates.  Updated forms that were issued in February 2020 will no longer be accepted as of October 1, 2020.  

The information requested on OMS forms is required by health plans in order to process the request. As OMS submits the information on your behalf, it is very important that the information is complete and legible (typed is strongly preferred) to avoid any delays.  The forms are PDF editable, so completing the basic information for each provider and saving as a template for future use is suggested.  Whenever possible, OMS prefers to receive documents via email given the clarity is typically better than faxed items; however, OMS can receive documents in both formats to accommodate providers.  Requests received with incomplete documents may be delayed while attempting to secure the required information or clarification of the information shared. The team recognizes the value of your time and the importance of quick turnaround times for both you and your patients; therefore, we would like to share the required paperwork and documents needed to process requests.  Here are the documents required for each case when submitting a request to OMS:

  • Surgical Procedure Authorization Request Form with supporting documentation:
    • Copy of the patient’s health insurance card
    • Letter of medical necessity (templates available upon request)
    • Current chart notes, CT results & hearing test results including audiogram
  • Patient Authorization to Provide Insurance Support Services Form (Patient signature required)
  • Authorization for Release of Patient Health Information Form (Patient signature required)
  • Notice of Privacy Practice should be distributed to patients, but no signature required

To obtain the updated forms or learn more about working with OMS, visit our website, contact via email at OMS@Cochlear.com or watch these webinars.

About the author:

Nicole Craig is the Senior Manager of Managed Care and Market Access for Cochlear Americas. She oversees OMS and managed care contracting for Cochlear’s external DME replacement parts and accessories.

Information provided by Cochlear Americas regarding insurance coverage or reimbursement is provided as guidance only and is not intended as reimbursement or legal advice. Cochlear Americas makes no representation or warranty regarding such information or its completeness, accuracy, fitness for a particular purpose, or that following such guidance will result in any form of coverage or reimbursement from any insurer. Information presented is subject to change at any time. To be sure that you have the most current and applicable information available for your unique circumstances, please consult your own experts and seek your own legal advice regarding your reimbursement needs. In all cases, products or services billed must be medically necessary, actually performed and appropriately documented in the medical record.

Benefits

Help your patients maximize 2021 insurance benefits with Cochlear

August 25, 2021

Maximizing 2021 insurance benefits

We’re past the half-year mark— it’s a great time to remind your patients about potentially using their 2021 insurance benefits to upgrade their Cochlear sound processor. Our newest technologies, the Cochlear™ Nucleus® 7, Kanso® 2 and the Baha® 6 Max Sound Processors are designed with your patients’ needs in mind.

Encourage your patients and their caregivers to plan ahead. The insurance approval process can take 6-8 weeks and benefit qualification by the patient’s insurance company is dependent on when the order is shipped from Cochlear, not when the order is placed. Insurance companies require replacement order claim submissions in 2021 to ship by the end of the year, and the last day that Cochlear will be shipping orders is December 30, 2021. We recommend placing replacement sound processor orders no later than October 29, 2021. †

Cochlear is here to help

Reimbursement and Insurance Services at Cochlear helps your patients through the insurance reimbursement process. Our Insurance Support Center provides helpful resources for your patients. We will work with you to determine medical necessity and collect all documentation needed to bill your patient’s insurance directly for their sound processor upgrade.1

Parts and accessories

Did you know Cochlear provides direct insurance billing for covered parts and accessories, such as rechargeable batteries, coils and cables, for many contracted private insurance plans as well as Medicare, many state Medicaid plans (including HMOs), and TRICARE?2, ‡ 

Patients have the option to shop in insurance mode, where they will see only parts and accessories that are generally covered by insurance, on the online Cochlear Store.  In insurance mode, they can place orders and bill them directly to their insurance if they are covered by a plan that is contracted with Cochlear.3

†Orders placed on or before October 29, 2021 are not guaranteed to be approved by an insurer or shipped on or before December 30, 2021, the last available shipping date to meet the insurance deadline. Placing an order through Cochlear’s Reimbursement and Insurance Services does not imply approval from an insurance carrier.

Information for patients:

1. Information provided by Cochlear Americas regarding insurance coverage or reimbursement is provided as guidance only and is not intended as reimbursement or legal advice. Cochlear Americas makes no representation or warranty regarding such information or its completeness, accuracy, fitness for a particular purpose, or that following such guidance will result in any form of coverage or reimbursement from any insurer. Information presented is subject to change at any time. To be sure that you have the most current and applicable information available for your unique circumstances, please consult your own experts and seek your own legal advice regarding your reimbursement needs. In all cases, products or services billed must be medically necessary, actually performed and appropriately documented in the medical record. You will be responsible for paying any applicable coinsurance, deductible, or amounts not covered by your insurance to Cochlear. Coverage determinations and out-of-pocket costs may vary for individuals with private insurance.

2. As of Feb 1, 2018, Cochlear provides direct insurance billing support for many major private insurance plans, Medicare, Medicaid‡ (including HMOs) and Tricare for repairs, parts and accessories. Cochlear’s full-service billing support is available for recipients who are covered under one of the plans with whom Cochlear is contracted. If you would like to place an order for a replacement part or accessory, please keep in mind orders may take up to 2 weeks to process and ship, so please plan ahead.

‡Cochlear is currently enrolled with Medicaid programs in the following states: AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MS, MT, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, and WY.

3. Please keep in mind, if you choose to self-pay today, you may not be able to submit a claim to your insurance on your own if Cochlear is contracted with your private insurance provider. Visit https://www.Cochlear.com/US/insurancelist to see if Cochlear is contracted with your insurance provider. If Cochlear is contracted with your insurance provider, we suggest placing your order through Cochlear’s Reimbursement and Insurance Services.

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This material is intended for health professionals. If you are a consumer, please seek advice from your health professional about treatments for hearing loss. Outcomes may vary, and your health professional will advise you about the factors which could affect your outcome. Always read the instructions for use. Not all products are available in all countries. Please contact your local Cochlear representative for product information.

 

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