CPT codes: Empowering innovation & technology

If you have an innovation that could help physicians provide better care to patients, the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT^®) could help. Most innovations have some obstacles to overcome before they reach patients. Among these are questions from physicians: including “Does it work?” and “Will insurance cover this for my patient?”

CPT codes can address some of these obstacles to care by helping physicians to answer these questions. The codes are managed by the CPT Editorial Panel, a panel of experts convened by, but independent from, the AMA. The CPT Editorial Panel ensures that CPT codes reflect the latest medical care available to patients. To do this, the Panel maintains an open process and convenes public meetings multiple times per year to solicit the direct input of practicing physicians, medical device manufacturers, developers of the latest diagnostic tests and advisors from over 100 medical societies representing physicians and other qualified health care professionals.

The AMA also convenes the Digital Medicine Payment Advisory Group (DMPAG), which was established to accelerate integration of digital medicine technologies into clinical practice. The DMPAG is an independent advisory group which advises the AMA on issues of coding, coverage, pricing and program integrity in digital medicine. Through the DMPAG’s work we have already seen CPT coding for self-measured blood pressure monitoring, remote retinal imaging, electrocardiographic recording, remote optical coherence tomography and algorithmic enabled services, to name just a few.

If you are interested in applying for a code, learn about the CPT Smart App. The CPT Smart App is the online code change application tool. It eliminates paper applications and increases the efficiency of the code change process by streamlining the effort. The accompanying online training materials and embedded help videos give step-by-step instructions and insights into the CPT Editorial Panel process. Once the code change application is submitted, a comprehensive, open and transparent review process is conducted by AMA staff, CPT advisors and the CPT Editorial Panel over the next 90 days.

The AMA is attacking dysfunction in health care by removing obstacles and burdens that interfere with patient care. With CPT content, our focus is on making technology an asset in the delivery of health care, not a burden.

To help developers turn amazing ideas into innovations that transform health care the AMA has created the CPT Developer Program, devoted to the needs of developers with access to the AMA’s best CPT content and resources. Visit the CPT Developer Program page to learn more.

There is a lot more to learn about CPT codes and how they support innovation. Explore the website and sign up for updates. You will find important information about the CPT code change process, licensing and new uses for the terminology. You know the language of innovation. CPT is the language of medicine.