479 Form

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Medical Policy Implantable Bone-Conduction and Bone-Anchored Hearing Aids Table of Contents
• Policy: Commercial • Coding Information
• Information Pertaining to All Policies
• Policy: Medicare • Description
• References
• Authorization Information • Policy History

Policy Number: 479 BCBSA Reference Number: 7.01.03 (For Plan internal use only) NCD/LCD: N/A Related Policies
• Cochlear Implant, #478 • Semi-Implantable and Fully Implantable Middle Ear Hearing Aid #480 Policy
Commercial Members: Managed Care (HMO and POS), PPO, and Indemnity
Medicare HMO BlueSM and Medicare PPO BlueSM Members

Unilateral or bilateral fully or partially implantable bone-conduction (bone-anchored) hearing aid(s) may be MEDICALLY NECESSARY as an alternative to an air-conduction hearing aid in individuals 5 years of age and older with conductive or mixed hearing loss who also meets at least one of the following medical criteria:

• Congenital or surgically induced malformations (e.g., atresia) of the external ear canal or middle ear • Chronic external otitis or otitis media • Tumors of the external canal and/or tympanic cavity, or • Dermatitis of the external canal.

AND meets the following audiologic criteria: • A pure tone average bone-conduction threshold measured at 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 kHz of better than or equal to 45 dB ( Baha 5, Ponto 4), 55 Db (Baha 6 Max, Baha 5 Power, Osia2, Ponto 3 Power) or 65 dB (Baha 5 SuperPower, Ponto 3 Superpower).

For bilateral implantation, individuals should meet the above audiologic criteria and have symmetrically conductive or mixed hearing loss as defined by a difference between left- and right-side bone-conduction threshold of less than 10 dB on average measured at 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 kHz (4 kHz for Baha and Ponto Pro), or less than 15 dB at individual frequencies.

An implantable bone-conduction (bone-anchored) hearing aid may be MEDICALLY NECESSARY as an alternative to an air-conduction contralateral routing of signal hearing aid in individuals 5 years of age and older with single-sided sensorineural deafness and normal hearing in the other ear. The pure tone

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average air-conduction threshold of the normal ear should be better than 20 dB measured at 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 kHz.

Other uses of bone-conduction (bone-anchored) hearing aids, including use in individuals with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, are INVESTIGATIONAL.

Prior Authorization Information
Inpatient • For services described in this policy, precertification/preauthorization IS REQUIRED for all products if the procedure is performed inpatient.
Outpatient • For services described in this policy, see below for products where prior authorization might be required if the procedure is performed outpatient.

Outpatient Commercial Managed Care (HMO and POS) Prior authorization is not required. Commercial PPO and Indemnity Prior authorization is not required. Medicare HMO BlueSM Prior authorization is not required. Medicare PPO BlueSM Prior authorization is not required. CPT Codes / HCPCS Codes / ICD Codes Inclusion or exclusion of a code does not constitute or imply member coverage or provider reimbursement. Please refer to the member’s contract benefits in effect at the time of service to determine coverage or non-coverage as it applies to an individual member.

Providers should report all services using the most up-to-date industry-standard procedure, revenue, and diagnosis codes, including modifiers where applicable.

The following codes are included below for informational purposes only; this is not an all-inclusive list.

The above medical necessity criteria MUST be met for the following codes to be covered for Commercial Members: Managed Care (HMO and POS), PPO, Indemnity, Medicare HMO Blue and Medicare PPO Blue:

CPT Codes CPT codes: Code Description 69710 Implantation or replacement of electromagnetic bone conduction hearing device in temporal bone 69714 Implantation, osseointegrated implant, temporal bone, with percutaneous attachment to external speech processor/cochlear stimulator; without mastoidectomy 69716 Implantation, osseointegrated implant, skull; with magnetic transcutaneous attachment to external speech processor, within the mastoid and/or resulting in removal of less than 100 sq mm surface area of bone deep to the outer cranial cortex 69719 Osseointegrated implant revision or replacement with magnetic transcutaneous attachment to a speech processor 69726 Removal, entire osseointegrated implant, skull; with percutaneous attachment to external speech processor 69727 Removal, entire osseointegrated implant, skull; with magnetic transcutaneous attachment to external speech processor, within the mastoid and/or involving a bony defect less than 100 sq mm surface area of bone deep to the outer cranial cortex 69728 Removal, entire osseointegrated implant, skull; with magnetic transcutaneous attachment to external speech processor, outside the mastoid and involving a bony defect greater than or equal to 100 sq mm surface area of bone deep to the outer cranial cortex

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69729 Implantation, osseointegrated implant, skull; with magnetic transcutaneous attachment to external speech processor, outside of the mastoid and resulting in removal of greater than or equal to 100 sq mm surface area of bone deep to the outer cranial cortex 69730 Replacement (including removal of existing device), osseointegrated implant, skull; with magnetic transcutaneous attachment to external speech processor, outside the mastoid and involving a bony defect greater than or equal to 100 sq mm surface area of bone deep to the outer cranial cortex

HCPCS Codes HCPCS codes: Code Description L8690 Auditory osseointegrated device, includes all internal and external components

The following ICD Diagnosis Codes are considered medically necessary when submitted with the CPT/HCPCS codes above if medical necessity criteria are met:

ICD-10 Diagnosis Codes ICD-10-CM Diagnosis codes: Code Description C30.1 Malignant neoplasm of middle ear C44.201 Unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of unspecified ear and external auricular canal C44.202 Unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of right ear and external auricular canal C44.209 Unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of left ear and external auricular canal H60.399 Other infective otitis externa, unspecified ear H60.60 Unspecified chronic otitis externa, unspecified ear H60.61 Unspecified chronic otitis externa, right ear H60.62 Unspecified chronic otitis externa, left ear H60.63 Unspecified chronic otitis externa, bilateral H60.8x1 Other otitis externa, right ear H60.8x2 Other otitis externa, left ear H60.8x3 Other otitis externa, bilateral H60.8x9 Other otitis externa, unspecified ear H60.90 Unspecified otitis externa, unspecified ear H60.91 Unspecified otitis externa, right ear H60.92 Unspecified otitis externa, left ear H60.93 Unspecified otitis externa, bilateral H61.391 Other acquired stenosis of right external ear canal H61.392 Other acquired stenosis of left external ear canal H61.393 Other acquired stenosis of external ear canal, bilateral H61.399 Other acquired stenosis of external ear canal, unspecified ear H62.8x1 Other disorders of right external ear in diseases classified elsewhere H62.8x2 Other disorders of left external ear in diseases classified elsewhere H62.8x3 Other disorders of external ear in diseases classified elsewhere, bilateral H62.8x9 Other disorders of external ear in diseases classified elsewhere, unspecified ear H65.20 Chronic serous otitis media, unspecified ear H65.21 Chronic serous otitis media, right ear H65.22 Chronic serous otitis media, left ear H65.23 Chronic serous otitis media, bilateral H65.30 Chronic mucoid otitis media, unspecified ear H65.31 Chronic mucoid otitis media, right ear

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H65.32 Chronic mucoid otitis media, left ear H65.33 Chronic mucoid otitis media, bilateral H65.411 Chronic allergic otitis media, right ear H65.412 Chronic allergic otitis media, left ear H65.413 Chronic allergic otitis media, bilateral H65.419 Chronic allergic otitis media, unspecified ear H65.491 Other chronic nonsuppurative otitis media, right ear H65.492 Other chronic nonsuppurative otitis media, left ear H65.493 Other chronic nonsuppurative otitis media, bilateral H65.499 Other chronic nonsuppurative otitis media, unspecified ear H66.10 Chronic tubotympanic suppurative otitis media, unspecified H66.11 Chronic tubotympanic suppurative otitis media, right ear H66.12 Chronic tubotympanic suppurative otitis media, left ear H66.13 Chronic tubotympanic suppurative otitis media, bilateral

H66.20 Chronic atticoantral suppurative otitis media, unspecified ear H66.21 Chronic atticoantral suppurative otitis media, right ear

H66.22 Chronic atticoantral suppurative otitis media, left ear H66.23 Chronic atticoantral suppurative otitis media, bilateral H66.3X1 Other chronic suppurative otitis media, right ear H66.3X2 Other chronic suppurative otitis media, left ear H66.3X3 Other chronic suppurative otitis media, bilateral H66.3X9 Other chronic suppurative otitis media, unspecified ear H90.0 Conductive hearing loss, bilateral H90.11 Conductive hearing loss, unilateral, right ear, with unrestricted hearing on the contralateral side H90.12 Conductive hearing loss, unilateral, left ear, with unrestricted hearing on the contralateral side H90.2 Conductive hearing loss, unspecified H90.41 Sensorineural hearing loss, unilateral, right ear, with unrestricted hearing on the contralateral side H90.42 Sensorineural hearing loss, unilateral, left ear, with unrestricted hearing on the contralateral side H90.6 Mixed conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, bilateral H90.71 Mixed conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, unilateral, right ear, with unrestricted hearing on the contralateral side H90.72 Mixed conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, unilateral, left ear, with unrestricted hearing on the contralateral side H90.8 Mixed conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, unspecified H90.A11 Conductive hearing loss, unilateral, right ear with restricted hearing on the contralateral side H90.A12 Conductive hearing loss, unilateral, left ear with restricted hearing on the contralateral side H90.A21 Sensorineural hearing loss, unilateral, right ear, with restricted hearing on the contralateral side H90.A22 Sensorineural hearing loss, unilateral, left ear, with restricted hearing on the contralateral side H90.A31 Mixed conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, unilateral, right ear with restricted hearing on the contralateral side H90.A32 Mixed conductive and sensorineural hearing, unilateral, left ear with restricted hearing on the contralateral side Q16.1 Congenital absence, atresia and stricture of auditory canal (external) Q16.4 Other congenital malformations of middle ear

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Description Hearing Loss Hearing loss is described as conductive, sensorineural, or mixed, and can be unilateral or bilateral. Normal hearing detects sound at or below 20 decibels (dB). The American Speech Language Hearing Association has defined degree of hearing loss based on pure-tone average detection thresholds as mild (20 to 40 dB), moderate (40 to 60 dB), severe (60 to 80 dB), and profound (≥80 dB). Pure-tone average is calculated by averaging hearing sensitivities (ie, the minimum volume that a patient hears) at multiple frequencies (perceived as pitch), typically within the range of 0.25 to 8 kHz.

Sound amplification using an air-conduction (AC) hearing aid can provide benefit to patients with sensorineural or mixed hearing loss. Contralateral routing of signal (CROS) is a system in which a microphone on the affected side transmits a signal to an AC hearing aid on the normal or less affected side.

Treatment External bone-conduction hearing devices function by transmitting sound waves through the bone to the ossicles of the middle ear. The external devices must be applied close to the temporal bone, with either a steel spring over the top of the head or a spring-loaded arm on a pair of spectacles. These devices may be associated with pressure headaches or soreness.

A bone-anchored implant system combines a vibrational transducer coupled directly to the skull via a percutaneous abutment that permanently protrudes through the skin from a small titanium implant anchored in the temporal bone. The system is based on osseointegration through which living tissue integrates with titanium in the implant over 3 to 6 months, conducting amplified and processed sound via the skull bone directly to the cochlea. The lack of intervening skin permits the transmission of vibrations at a lower energy level than required for external bone-conduction hearing aids. Implantable bone- conduction hearing systems are primarily indicated for people with conductive or mixed sensorineural or conductive hearing loss. These may also be used with CROS as an alternative to an AC hearing aid for individuals with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss.

Partially implantable magnetic bone-conduction hearing systems also referred to as transcutaneous bone-anchored systems, are an alternative to bone-conduction hearing systems that connect to bone percutaneously via an abutment. With this technique, acoustic transmission occurs transcutaneously via magnetic coupling of the external sound processor and the internally implanted device components. The bone-conduction hearing processor contains magnets that adhere externally to magnets implanted in shallow bone beds with the bone-conduction hearing implant. Because the processor adheres magnetically to the implant, there is no need for a percutaneous abutment to physically connect the external and internal components. To facilitate greater transmission of acoustics between magnets, skin thickness may be reduced to 4 to 5 mm over the implant when it is surgically placed.

Summary Sensorineural, conductive, and mixed hearing loss may be treated with various devices, including conventional air-conduction or bone-conduction external hearing aids. Air-conduction hearing aids may not be suitable for patients with chronic middle ear and ear canal infections, atresia of the external canal, or an ear canal that cannot accommodate an ear mold. Bone-conduction hearing aids may be useful for individuals with conductive hearing loss, or (if used with contralateral routing of signal), for unilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Implantable, bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHAs) that use a percutaneous or transcutaneous connection to a sound processor have been investigated as alternatives to conventional bone-conduction hearing aids for patients with conductive or mixed hearing loss or for patients with unilateral single-sided sensorineural hearing loss.

For individuals who have conductive or mixed hearing loss who receive an implantable BAHA with a percutaneous abutment or a partially implantable BAHA with transcutaneous coupling to the sound processor, the evidence includes observational studies that have reported pre-post differences in hearing parameters after treatment with BAHAs. Relevant outcomes are functional outcomes, quality of life, and treatment-related morbidity. No prospective trials were identified. Observational studies reporting on

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within-subjects changes in hearing have generally reported hearing improvements with the devices. Given the objectively measured outcomes and the largely invariable natural history of hearing loss in individuals who would be eligible for an implantable bone-conduction device, the demonstrated improvements in hearing after device placement can be attributed to the device. Studies of partially implantable BAHAs have similarly demonstrated within-subject’s improvements in hearing. The single- arm studies have shown improvements in hearing in the device-aided state. No direct comparisons other than within-individual comparisons with external hearing aids were identified, but, for individuals unable to wear an external hearing aid, there may be few alternative treatments. The evidence is sufficient to determine that the technology results in an improvement in the net health outcome.

For individuals who have unilateral sensorineural hearing loss who receive a fully or partially implantable BAHA with the contralateral routing of signal, the evidence includes an RCT, multiple prospective and retrospective case series, and a systematic review. Relevant outcomes are functional outcomes, quality of life, and treatment-related morbidity. Single-arm case series, with sample sizes ranging from 9 to 180 patients, have generally reported improvements in patient-reported speech quality, speech perception in noise, and satisfaction with bone-conduction devices with contralateral routing of the signal. However, a well-conducted systematic review of studies comparing bone-anchored devices with hearing aids using contralateral routing of signal found no evidence of improvement in speech recognition or hearing localization. The single RCT included in the systematic review was a pilot study enrolling only 10 patients and, therefore, does not provide definitive evidence. Quality RCTs on BAHA for unilateral sensorineural hearing loss are lacking. The evidence is insufficient to determine that the technology results in an improvement in the net health outcome.

For patients with single-sided sensorineural deafness, a binaural hearing benefit may be provided by way of contralateral routing of signals to the hearing ear. There is evidence that bilateral hearing assistance devices improve hearing to a greater degree than unilateral devices. BAHAs may be considered an alternative to external devices in patients who are not candidates for external devices. By extension, the use of an implantable bone-conduction device with contralateral routing of the signal may be considered medically necessary in patients with unilateral sensorineural deafness. Policy History Date Action 2/2026 Policy updated with literature review through December 23, 2025; no references added. Policy statements unchanged. 4/2025 Annual policy review. References updated. Policy statements unchanged. 4/2024 Annual policy review. References updated. Policy statements unchanged. 4/2023 Annual policy review. Minor editorial refinements to policy statements; intent unchanged. 1/2023 Clarified coding information. 3/2022 Annual policy review. Policy statements unchanged. 1/2022 Clarified coding information. 7/2021 Clarification made to policy statement for FDA approved devices.
4/2021 Annual policy review. Description, summary, and references updated. Policy statements unchanged. 4/2020 Annual policy review. Description, summary, and references updated. Policy statements unchanged. 4/2019 Annual policy review. Description, summary, and references updated. Policy statements unchanged. 3/2017 Annual policy review. New references added. 12/2016 Annual policy review. Policy statements changed to remove investigational statement for partially implantable devices. References added. Clarified coding information Effective 12/1/2016. 8/2016 New medically necessary indications described for partially implantable bone conduction hearing systems using magnetic coupling for acoustic transmission.
Effective 8/1/2016. 4/2016 Annual policy review. New references added.

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2/2016 Clarified coding information. 3/2015 Annual policy review. New references added. 7/2014 Updated Coding section with ICD10 procedure and diagnosis codes, effective 10/2015. 3/2014 Annual policy review. Investigational statement clarified. Effective 3/1/2014. 11/2013 Coding information clarified. 5/2013 Annual policy review. New references added. 2/2013 Annual policy review. New references added. 2007-2012 Reviewed - Medical Policy Group - Allergy and ENT/Otolaryngology. No changes to policy statements. Information Pertaining to All Blue Cross Blue Shield Medical Policies Click on any of the following terms to access the relevant information: Medical Policy Terms of Use Managed Care Guidelines Indemnity/PPO Guidelines Clinical Exception Process Medical Technology Assessment Guidelines

References

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54. AlFarraj A, AlIbrahim M, AlHajjaj H, et al. Transcutaneous Bone Conduction Implants in Patients With Single-Sided Deafness: Objective and Subjective Evaluation. Ear Nose Throat J. Feb 2025; 104(2): NP92-NP100. PMID 35499947
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77. American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Position Statement: Bone Conduction Hearing Devices. Position Statements 2016; https://www.entnet.org/resource/position-statement- bone-conduction-hearing-devices/. Accessed December 18, 2025.
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79. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Fact sheets: CMS Updates Policies and Payment Rates for End- Stage Renal Disease Facilities for CY 2015 and Implementation of Competitive Bidding- Based Prices for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies. 2014; https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/cms-updates-policies-and-payment-rates-end-stage- renal-disease-facilities-cy-2015-and-implementation. Accessed December 18, 2025.