AAO21: Otitis Media with Effusion (OME): Comprehensive Audiometric Evaluation for Chronic OME ≥ 3 months

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High Priority Status: No / N/A

CBE Number: N/A

Measure Description:

Percentage of patients aged 6 months to 12 years of age with a diagnosis of otitis media with effusion (OME) including chronic serous, mucoid, or nonsuppurative OME of ≥ 3 months duration who had or received an order or referral for comprehensive audiometric evaluation.

Instructions:

This measure is to be submitted a minimum of once per performance period for patients diagnosed with OME including chronic serous, mucoid, or nonsuppurative OME of ≥ 3 months duration. This measure may be submitted by clinicians based on the services provided and the measure-specific denominator coding.

Denominator:

All patients aged 6 months through 12 years of age with a diagnosis of OME including chronic serous, mucoid, or nonsuppurative OME of ≥ 3 months duration

Denominator Note:

To meet the denominator criteria, the measure requires 2 visits for acute OME or 1 visit with a chronic OME diagnosis. The acute OME diagnosis must be charted for both encounters to establish OME as chronic and of greater than 3 months duration. The acute diagnosis code does not need to be the same for both visits. A patient may have acute OME during the first visit and acute or chronic OME during the second visit. OME must be diagnosed on the same side during each visit (e.g., OME in left ear during first visit must be in left ear or bilateral during second visit; or bilateral OME during 1st visit can be either bilateral, left, or right during second visit).

Denominator Exclusions:

None

Denominator Criteria:

Patients aged 6 months through 12 years

AND

Diagnosis: Otitis Media with Effusion (OME) – chronic serous, mucoid, or nonsuppurative

OR

Acute OME x2 Visits:

Patient Visit #1: Encounter Visit AND Diagnosis #1: Acute OME

AND

Patient Visit #2: Encounter Visit AND Diagnosis #2: Acute/Chronic OME

AND

≥ 3 months duration

For a list of codes that qualify as denominator eligible visits, reference Addendum attached.

 Numerator:

Patients who had or received an order or referral for comprehensive audiometric evaluation

Numerator Note:

To meet the intent of the measure, documentation is required that a comprehensive audiometric evaluation was performed or a referral was made during the encounter in which chronic OME is established. Comprehensive audiometric evaluation is typically performed by an audiologist, but the specific methods will vary with the age of the child.

Denominator Exceptions:

Patients who had a hearing test within 6 months of the original diagnosis of OME including chronic serous, mucoid, or nonsuppurative OME.

Measure Classifications:

• Submission Pathway: Traditional MIPS, MIPS Value Pathways
• Measure Type: Process
• High Priority Type: N/A
• Meaningful Measures Area: Preventive Care
• Care Setting(s): Ambulatory Care: Clinician Office/Clinic
• Includes Telehealth: Yes
• Number of Performance Rates: 1
  • Inverse measure: No
  • Continuous measure: No
  • Proportional measure: Yes
  • Ratio measure: No
  • Risk Adjusted measure: No

Clinical Recommendation Statement:

Clinicians should obtain an age-appropriate hearing test if OME persists for 3 months or longer OR prior to surgery when a child becomes a candidate for tympanostomy tube insertion.

Rosenfeld RM, Schwartz SR, Pynnonen MA, et al. Clinical practice guideline: Tympanostomy tubes in children. Otolaryngology Head Neck Surg. 2013;149(1 Suppl):S1-S35. doi:10.1177/0194599813487302

Rationale:

Unresolved otitis media with effusion and associated hearing loss may lead to language delay, auditory problems, poor school performance and behavioral problems in young children. The effect of otitis media with effusion is greatest when repeated or persistent episodes occur during early childhood. When delays or disorders are identified through testing, intervention should begin promptly for the best long-term prognosis.

Supporting Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG):

For more details, reference the Clinical Practice Guideline: Otitis Media with Effusion (Update) [2016]

© 2026 American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. All rights reserved.

Limited proprietary coding is contained in the measure specifications for convenience. Users of the proprietary code sets should obtain all necessary licenses from the owners of these code sets. The measures, while copyrighted, can be reproduced and distributed, without modification, for noncommercial purposes, e.g., use by health care providers in connection with their practices. Commercial use is defined as the sale, license, or distribution of the measures for commercial gain, or incorporation of the measures into a product or service that is sold, licensed or distributed for commercial gain. Commercial uses of the measures require a license agreement between the user and the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.

The measure is not a clinical guideline, does not establish a standard of medical care, and has not been tested for all potential applications. The measure and specifications are provided “as is” without warranty of any kind. Neither the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF), nor its members shall be responsible for any use of the measure. The AAO-HNSF and its members disclaim all liability for use or accuracy of any Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) or other coding contained in the specifications.

Addendum