Funding Update: What Elevance Health’s New 60-Day AAC Trial Requirement Means For You

_{Published November 3, 2026}

The Short Version

If your client’s insurance plan follows Elevance Health’s CG-DME-07 guideline, their AAC evaluation must now include documentation of a device trial lasting at least 60 days.

If that sounds like one more thing to add to your funding checklist, don’t worry. Here’s what you need to know and how PRC-Saltillo can help.

Start with these four steps:

Confirm whether your client’s insurance plan follows CG-DME-07
Plan and document a device trial lasting at least 60 days
Make sure the physician and SLP each provide thorough documentation supporting medical necessity and recommending the device
Reach out to your PRC-Saltillo AAC Consultant if you have questions or need help along the way

Got a few more minutes? Grab your coffee, and let’s walk through the details.

First, what is CG-DME-07?

CG-DME-07 is Elevance Health’s guideline for determining whether an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device is medically necessary.

Under the updated guideline, plans that follow CG-DME-07 now require the AAC evaluation to document a device trial of at least 60 days.

You can review the full CG-DME-07 guideline for complete requirements.

How do I know if this applies to my client?

Your client may be affected if they have coverage through Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Wellpoint, or Carelon, which are Elevance Health companies offering commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid plans.

Because requirements can vary by plan, the best first step is to call the member services number on your client’s insurance card and ask which guideline the plan follows for AAC devices.

Not sure where to start? Contact your PRC-Saltillo AAC Consultant. We’ll do our best to help you verify the requirements based on the information available to us.

My client’s plan follows CG-DME-07. What should I document?

If your client’s plan follows CG-DME-07, the AAC evaluation should clearly document a trial lasting at least 60 days, demonstrate your client’s ability to use the device, and explain why the recommended device was selected.

During the trial, be sure to capture:

Trial duration: Include the trial dates, total number of days (at least 60), and session lengths
Communication and language: Document what your client communicated and why, such as answering questions, making requests, or expressing feelings and needs
Symbols and words: Note the types and number of symbols and/or words your client used
Navigation: Describe how independently your client was able to find and select messages.

A helpful tip

You don’t have to start from scratch. Use the trial data collection worksheet on our Templates & Samples page to keep track of observations throughout the trial.

When it’s time to write your report, summarize what you observed in a simple chart and connect those results to your client’s everyday communication needs and your rationale for recommending the device.

Already working on a funding request?

If you’re already partway through a trial or writing your report, take a moment to check that the required 60-day trial is complete and clearly documented.

If it isn’t, the funding request may be denied, but you still have options.

Reach out to your PRC-Saltillo AAC Consultant to talk through next steps. We can help you explore options for extending the trial, updating the report, or adding an addendum.

If the request has already been submitted, we can also help you review the plan’s response and discuss options for an appeal if the request is denied.

We’re here to help make the process easier

A 60-day trial requires some extra planning, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. PRC-Saltillo has resources to help you and your client throughout the process.

Find a device or app to trial. Explore our trial device program, Evaluation Loan Program, and AAC App Discover programs through AAC Funding – Borrow a Device
Plan a successful trial. Check out 5 Quick Tips for a Successful AAC Trial Device Experience for ideas to prepare your client and support team, gather meaningful observations, and document device use
Strengthen your funding report. Get practical report-writing guidance in our online course, Writing an AAC Funding Evaluation Report: Pediatric Case Study
Need more time for the trial? Contact your PRC-Saltillo AAC Consultant to explore options for completing the required 60 days of device testing

Have questions? Let’s figure it out together.

Funding requirements can be complicated, especially when guidelines change. Your PRC-Saltillo AAC Consultant is here to help you understand the requirements, plan your trial, and identify next steps so you can keep the focus where it belongs: helping your client find the communication solution that works best for them.

Find your PRC-Saltillo AAC Consultant

Last updated: October 2026

Insurance coverage policies and requirements can change and may vary by payer, plan, state, and individual member benefits. PRC-Saltillo will provide the most current information available to us and support customers as new requirements are identified.

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