Every January 1, the healthcare industry implements new, revised, and deleted CPT codes to support medical innovations, technologies, and cutting-edge procedures. The 2026 update includes 288 new codes, 84 deletions, and 46 revisions with vascular surgery and pathology and laboratory services experiencing the most significant impact. However, as with all annual CPT updates, nearly every specialty is affected in some capacity.
The following overview highlights the AMA 2026 CPT code changes most relevant to current specialty and revenue cycle considerations. For a deeper dive, consider resources and training opportunities from the American Medical Association which provides in-depth education. You can also check out the most recent meeting minutes and recommendations from the RVS update committee as well as the most recent CPT editorial panel summary of panel actions. And of course, be sure to purchase or download the latest CPT coding manual that includes all of the AMA 2026 CPT code changes. [Note: You can also read our recap on the FY 2026 ICD-10-CM/PCS code changes here.]
The 2026 CPT code update includes several specialty-specific changes, including the following highlights.
1. Audiology The AMA 2026 CPT code changes include new reporting options reflecting current hearing technology and care models. These codes capture the complexity and breadth of audiologic services for hearing aid candidacy determination, hearing aid selection, hearing aid fitting, follow-up after fitting, hearing aid verification, and the fitting of assistive devices. In addition, new Category III codes denote fully implantable active middle ear hearing implants, as well as cryolysis therapy for sleep apnea, distinguishing treatment of the soft palate, base of tongue, and lingual tonsils.
The AMA 2026 CPT code changes include several new codes denoting improved granularity and enhanced coding pathways for advanced imaging/analytics. Included are new codes for cardiovascular monitoring services (including interrogation of advanced implantable autonomic systems), AI-assisted coronary plaque assessment, and perivascular fat analysis.
The AMA 2026 CPT code updates add new codes designed to support more detailed and accurate reporting of advanced diagnostic and proprietary testing. Some examples are the addition of new CPT codes to report testing for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A-B, amplified probe laboratory panel testing for sexually transmitted pathogens, and cytogenomic (genome-wide) analysis for optical genome mapping.
The AMA 2026 CPT code changes transition CT cerebral perfusion imaging from a long-standing CategoryIII code to new Category I codes. In addition, percutaneous irreversible electroporation, previously reported with a single nonspecific code, now has organ-specific Category I codes for liver and prostate ablation.
The AMA 2026 CPT code changes include better procedural distinction and coding specificity for vascular specialists. This includes a complete overhaul of lower extremity revascularization. Long-standing codes are replaced by 46 new territory-based codes (37254–37299). These codes categorize interventions by four defined vascular regions (lilac, Femoral & Popliteal, Tibial & Peroneal, Inframalleolar) and differentiate straightforward (stenosis) from complex lesions (Occlusion), with clearer logic for add-on reporting when multiple vessels are treated.
The remote physiologic monitoring (RPM) code set includes several notable updates. Existing device-related codes 99453 and 99454 have revised descriptors, and a new code, 99445, is introduced to report device supply and data transmission when monitoring occurs for two to 15 days within a 30-day period. This addition recognizes shorter-duration monitoring models that still provide clinically meaningful data.
A second new code, 99470, is established to report the first 10 minutes of RPM treatment management services. As a result, 99457 and 99458 are revised to align with this new time-based structure. Updated guidelines, explanatory tables, and parenthetical instructions clarify correct reporting based on cumulative monthly time and patient interaction requirements.
The AMA 2026 CPT code changes include a new code for 2–15 days of remote patient monitoring within a 30-day period as well as a new code for 10–20 minutes of remote patient monitoring per calendar month, down from the previous 20-minute threshold. With these changes, providers can now bill for shorter monitoring periods, expanding remote patient monitoring applicability, and reimbursement flexibility.
The AMA 2026 CPT code changes include the addition of several new codes to report vaccine counseling performed in the absence of the corresponding administration.
At this point, most EHR and billing systems should already reflect the AMA 2026 CPT code updates. However, organizations should take additional steps to ensure full readiness, including the following:
Educate staff about documentation nuances. With the AMA 2026 CPT code changes, detailed service description is now more critical. For example, lower extremity revascularization, clinicians must clearly document territory, lesion type, and intervention method. With new remote patient monitoring codes, clinicians must clearly document the exact number of days of physiological data collection, start/end dates, time spent in interactive communication with patients, and type of data and devices used. With new CPT codes for AI-assisted diagnostic and analytic services (e.g., plaque assessment, fat analysis, burn imaging), clinicians must clearly document interpretation versus software output. Provider education will be critical in the weeks and months ahead.
