An apparatus and method for communicating acoustic telemetry data produced by an implantable medical device over a communication channel includes a signal generator, a modulator, and an acoustic transmitter each provided in the implantable medical device. The modulator modulates a carrier signal with an information signal representative of information acquired or produced by the implantable medical device so as to produce a modulated information signal. The modulated information signal may have a frequency content that is readily accommodated by a public exchange communication channel. The transmitter transmits the modulated information signal as an acoustic information signal in a form communicable over the communication channel. The acoustic information signal may constitute telephonic tones which are directly communicable over a conventional telephone connection. The acoustic information signal may constitute digital telephonic tones each having a frequency and format that conforms to one or more telephony standards. In an embodiment in which the communication channel constitutes a public exchange communication channel, the acoustic information signal preferably has a frequency content that is band limited by an audio bandwidth of the public exchange communication channel. A number of different modulation techniques may be employed, including phase modulation, amplitude modulation or frequency modulation. Implantable medical devices which may incorporate telemetry circuitry of the present invention include a pacemaker, a pacemaker/cardioverter/defibrillator (PCD), an oxygen sensing device, an implantable hemodynamic monitor, a muscle stimulator device or a nerve stimulator device.