The CPT Editorial Panel (Panel) is engaged in an ongoing process improvement effort. Based on these efforts periodic changes to this website should be expected. Please contact CPT staff if you have any questions.
How do I request permission to use CPT® educational products?
You can download the permissions application and your request will be reviewed in a timely manner.
Where can I find an overview of the CPT code process?
The CPT code process page contains an overview of the CPT process.
Is my CPT code application complete?
When an application is received, AMA/CPT staff conduct a review to determine if the application addresses a new issue or presents significant new information about a previously reviewed item. Staff also verifies that all application questions have been answered. If this is not the case, the application is returned to the applicant for completion within a defined timeframe (e.g., five business days). Applications for multiple codes require a separate response for each code. This is especially important when completing the portion of the application that asks for the vignette and description of the distinct service.
Upon receipt of the completed application, the application is published to the secure CPT website for review by the CPT Advisory Committee and the Health Care Professionals Advisory Committee (together the CPT/ HCPAC Advisory Committee or "CPT advisors"). The CPT advisors are representatives of national medical specialty societies seated in the AMA House of Delegates and the Health Care Professionals Advisory Committee (HCPAC). The HCPAC is comprised of representatives from qualified non-physician health care professional organizations.
Prior to submitting an application, applicants are encouraged to work with the relevant specialties whose members would most logically provide the requested procedure/service. Applicants who wish to contact the specialty societies prior to submitting an application should contact the departments of coding and reimbursement for the national specialty societies listed in the front matter of the CPT Professional code book. Similarly, those who wish to contact the organizations representing qualified non-physician health care professionals that belong to the HCPAC should contact the departments of coding and reimbursement for these organizations that are listed in the front matter of the CPT Professional code book.
May I specify the CPT category (I or III) to which my code(s) will be assigned when published?
Applicants may make a request in the application regarding the CPT code category for the codes being sought. Code category assignment is determined through the CPT Editorial Panel evaluation relative to the outlined criteria for Category I/Category III codes as well as Category II codes.
What does the CPT advisors' review process entail?
The CPT advisors submit their opinions to the Panel based on the information contained in the application and clinical literature submitted with the application. Using this data, the CPT advisors and the Panel:
- Determine whether existing codes are currently reported for this service
- Identify the physicians and other qualified health care professionals who commonly provide the requested service
- Determine if other services are provided at the same time as the described service
- Determine how the procedural components of the service are depicted in the description
- Determine whether the literature submitted to support the service addresses the efficacy of the described service (as opposed to description of a related service)
- Determine if all of the components of the service have FDA approval when required
The CPT advisors’ review takes place on a secure website over the two months following the date that the applications are published to the CPT website. Applicants will be notified if their applications have received no CPT advisor support approximately 14 days before each Panel meeting. Applicants may withdraw applications up until the time that the agenda item is called at the meeting—thereafter the Panel has jurisdiction over the agenda item.
When does the Panel consider my application?
Panel deliberation takes place three times yearly at the Panel meetings, as described in the CPT/RUC meetings calendar. Panel review of the code change applications begins two months prior to each Panel meeting.
What are the possible outcomes of the Panel consideration of code change applications?
The Panel can accept as written, accept with modification (e.g., altered descriptor wording), reject, table or postpone the request for a new or revised code. Applicants will receive an email notice from AMA staff three weeks after the conclusion of the meeting to communicate the outcome of the Panel's consideration.
If accepted, the wording of the code descriptor and any relevant coding instructions is included in the notice of acceptance. However, applicants may not release this information to any other parties since future Panel actions may impact the code(s).
If an application is postponed, applicants will receive an email notice from AMA staff three weeks after the conclusion of the meeting, with specific instructions for the required information for representation of the application.
How does the Panel address services described in codes that change over time?
Changes in codes are frequently caused by the evolution over time of technique, components, or technologies used with the service or procedure. These changes may not substantively disrupt the basic procedure, may lead to improved patient outcomes and may become the standard of care.
When brought to the attention of the Panel, significant changes to the service may result in the Panel determination that technological enhancements of the service have substantially altered the procedure originally described by the code. The Panel may request submission of a code change application (whether by revision or deletion of the existing code[s] and/or addition of a new code[s]), to facilitate review of evidence and input through the multi-stakeholder CPT code process and comparison with the Category I/Category III criteria and ultimate CPT Editorial Panel determination of the most accurate service description for the new/different service.
When existing Category I codes are revised to reflect the evolution of the service, the Panel determines at that time whether the revisions are substantial or editorial. Category I codes that are substantially revised are referred for review by the RUC after each Panel meeting, for the determination of the valuation recommendations for the code. Category I codes that are revised so extensively that the meaning of the code is changed may be deleted and assigned a new CPT code number with the revised text.
What is the appeals process?
An applicant who believes the Panel made an error in a final action, may submit a Request for Reconsideration. This process is intended for applicants, interested parties, or organizations who may be affected by the decision and believe it meets specific reconsideration criteria.
As of May 2025, the process has been updated to ensure a faster, more transparent experience for applicants and interested stakeholders.
How the process works
Submit request
Within 14 days of the posting of the Summary of Panel Actions on the AMA website, a request must be submitted in writing with a clear explanation of the reconsideration standard that applies.
Executive Committee review
The Executive Committee of the Panel meets shortly after the deadline to review whether the request meets established criteria.
- If approved, the request will be reviewed at either a special virtual meeting of the Panel or the next regularly scheduled Panel meeting.
- If not approved, the Panel will vote on the matter at its next regularly scheduled Panel meeting.
Panel decision
The full Panel votes to either accept or reject the reconsideration request.
For requests that have been approved by the executive committee:
- If the Panel agrees that one or more of the criteria have been met for reconsideration, the application is reviewed at the immediate upcoming Panel meeting
- If the Panel disagrees and believes none of the criteria have been met for reconsideration, the request is closed
For requests that have been rejected by the executive committee:
- If the Panel agrees that none of the criteria have been met for reconsideration, the request is closed
- If the Panel disagrees and believes that one or more of the criteria have been met for reconsideration, the tab is reviewed at the next Panel meeting
For more detailed information, including how to submit a request and what qualifies for reconsideration, please see the full policy (PDF).
Why does the final code descriptor differ from the code descriptor that I submitted with my application?
Once the application has been submitted to the Panel, all actions related to the code application are under the authority of the Panel. Although the applicant is asked to provide specific language for the new code descriptor(s), applicants should not expect that Panel acceptance of an application will result in addition of the exact description provided in the application. A part of the Panel's consideration of the code change application is deciding on a specific option from multiple descriptor options resulting from the review by the AMA staff, the CPT advisors and consideration by the Panel. An important objective of the Panel is to ensure that the final descriptor adheres to CPT conventions, is clear and unambiguous, does not include proprietary references and is not seen as an endorsement of a particular device or service.
May I withdraw my application?
Applicants may withdraw an application any time before the tab is discussed at the Panel. Once the discussion falls under the authority of the Panel, the request may not be withdrawn. If the Panel deems that additional information or evaluation is warranted, it may be postponed until time certain (a specific future Panel meeting) or time uncertain.
May I review the comments from the CPT advisors related to my application?
In assisting applicants for preparation of a presentation to the Panel, AMA staff will provide the agenda item for the application 10 days prior to the meeting. This agenda item contains information not included in the application, including all alternate ballots and options provided for the Panel's consideration as a part of the CPT advisors review, and a summary of all comments from the CPT advisors related to the request.
How may I present my application to the Panel, and may others present with me?
Presentations to the Panel begin with a brief introduction of the applicant to the Panel and disclosure of any potential conflict(s) of interest. Following initiation of discussion by Panel members specifically assigned to discuss the CPT code change application, they or the chair may ask for a brief overview of the procedure or service for which a CPT code is being requested.
Applicants should be prepared to respond to questions posed by the Panel related to the application. Prepare to answer questions regarding the purpose of the requested code(s), why existing codes are not sufficient, and the specific nature of the service(s) or procedure(s) based on the clinical vignette(s) submitted with the application. Applicants should be familiar with the content of the CPT code set and its conventions (e.g., use of symbols and modifiers, structure and format of code descriptors), and the guidelines in the introduction of the code book.
Applicants may have more than one presenter for Panel discussion of the application. For the most effective presentation to the Panel, the presenter(s) should be a physician or other qualified health care professional who performs the service or procedure. All presenter(s) should be prepared to respond to the Panel's questions related to the details of providing the procedure/service.
Provision of additional handout materials to the Panel during the meeting is not allowed. The Panel cannot perform a reasonable review of these materials on short notice while giving full consideration to your application. Audio-visual aids (slides, videotapes, etc.) may not be used.
Formal presentation of written materials is not allowed since the Panel received the agenda materials well in advance of the meeting. An application for a code change is expected to stand by itself with the supporting peer-reviewed literature to provide the Panel with the information needed to make a determination on the application. Prior to the Panel meeting, all presenters are required to provide signed statements of confidentiality (PDF) and disclosure of potential conflict of interest.
Does lobbying statement preclude seeking support from Panel member, advisor, specialty societies?
The Statement on Lobbying is intended to protect specialty societies and their CPT Advisors, and the members of the Panel, from inappropriate lobbying regarding code change applications. “Lobbying” is defined as unsolicited communications of any kind made at any time (including side bar discussions during Editorial Panel meetings) for the purpose of attempting to improperly influence either:
- CPT/HCPAC Advisors’ or their societies’ evaluation of or comments upon a code-change request or
- Voting by members of the Panel on a code-change request
Any communication that can reasonably be interpreted as coercion, intimidation or harassment is strictly prohibited.
This prohibition is balanced against the legitimate need for code change applicants to receive valuable feedback from specialty society experts, which helps assure that code-change applications are complete, coherent and consistent with current medical practice and can be dealt with efficiently by the Panel. Thus, sending information to a specialty society to inform the society of the code change application and seeking evaluation of (or assistance with) the application does not violate the Lobbying Statement, even if it includes a request to support the code-change application.
The Panel also invites public statements at the Panel meetings and in certain workgroups. These are not considered “unsolicited comments” but must be made in manner that would not otherwise violate the prohibition or are disparaging to individuals or their organizations.
The prohibition of lobbying is intended to preclude threatening, coercive or harassing communications or activities—or repeated conduct of this sort, especially if the recipient has made clear further contacts are unwelcome. For example, if a society or its CPT advisor indicates that there is no interest in receiving further information from the applicant, then communications from the applicant and its representatives should cease.
An application for a code change and peer-reviewed literature is expected to provide the Panel with all of the information needed to make a determination on the application. If an applicant or other interested party wishes the CPT/HCPAC Advisors or the Panel to consider additional information after a code change application has been submitted to the AMA, that information must be submitted to AMA's CPT staff. Such information will be handled through the CPT process.
Those who wish to contact the specialty societies for assistance in construction of a code change application related to that specialty should contact the departments of coding and reimbursement for the national specialty societies listed in the front matter of the CPT Professional Edition code book. Similarly, those who wish to contact the organizations representing qualified non-physician health care professionals that belong to the HCPAC should contact the departments of coding and reimbursement for these organizations that are listed in the front matter of the CPT Professional Edition code book.
May I send additional information for my application?
If an applicant or other interested party wishes the CPT advisors or the Panel to consider additional information, that information must be submitted to AMA's CPT staff for distribution to the entire roster of CPT advisors and to the Panel. This information must be provided to CPT staff no later than two months prior to the Panel meeting. Applicants are not permitted to provide information directly to Panel members or CPT advisors. Such contacts or providing information is considered improper "lobbying" and is prohibited.
May I revise my application?
Revision of an application after the deadline date is strongly discouraged as this may cause confusion during the CPT advisors' review. Occasionally, during AMA staff review of an application and prior to the CPT advisors' review, deficiencies in an application may be identified. Applicants will be instructed to provide additional information within the timeframe defined by AMA staff. This is the only instance where revised applications are appropriate.
When will I find out the outcome of the Panel's consideration?
Following finalization of the Panel minutes applicants will receive an email notice from AMA staff, approximately three weeks after the conclusion of the meeting, to communicate the Panel actions related to the application.
My personal schedule during the published meeting days is very limited. When will my issue be discussed?
Discussions of an agenda item often take place at multiple times throughout the meeting. For this reason, a specific time or day cannot be provided with certainty for any item. Presenters should plan to be present for the entire meeting schedule.
May I review the applications, or any other available materials submitted by others for consideration by the Panel at this meeting?
The Panel agenda is available on the AMA CPT public website. While the monitoring of discussion of issues at the meeting is open to all, the actual meeting agenda materials are confidential and are available for review only upon written request and in compliance with “Interested Party” instructions provided with the publication of each Panel meeting’s public agenda. Public attendance at a meeting requires that you sign a confidentiality agreement.
How do I provide comments at a Panel meeting?
Attendees may request recognition at the floor microphones during the Panel meeting to provide comments on agenda items under discussion. Speakers who wish to comment must submit a signed conflict of interest statement prior to speaking. When attendees are recognized, the chair will ask the attendee to provide an introduction, including the organization represented and any potential conflict of interest. AMA staff will provide the necessary documents for signature by prospective participants upon request.
May I share the outcome of the Panel's consideration of my application with others?
The sharing of information about the Panel meetings is restricted by the terms of the signed confidentiality agreement. Panel decisions are posted following each meeting in the Panel Summary of Actions. Disclosure of Panel actions and deliberations is limited to the information contained in the Panel Summary of Actions.
Specialty society members, staff and any others who are involved in surveys for the AMA/Specialty Society RVS Update Committee for approved Category I codes are also notified of Panel outcomes through the "Level of Interest" process. Immediately following Panel meetings, applicable codes go through the RVS Update Process (RUC) for survey and review, for inclusion in the list of RUC relative value recommendations to CMS each year. For a complete account of the RUC, see the RVS Update Process.
New and revised code descriptions may be further refined prior to publication each year. For this reason, code numbers are not assigned, nor exact wording finalized, until just prior to publication of the annual CPT code set.
Premature release of coding information other than the Panel Summary of Actions is prohibited.
CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association
