Patient advocacy group sues AMA over CPT code copyright

PatientRightsAdvocate.org has filed a federal lawsuit against the American Medical Association, challenging its copyright over the CPT medical billing codes. The advocacy group argues that because the codes are integrated into federal and state laws, they belong in the public domain. The AMA currently generates an estimated $300 million annually from CPT licensing fees. This legal challenge coincides with rising political scrutiny and a push by the CMS to explore alternative billing systems.

PatientRightsAdvocate.org lawsuit against AMA

• ▪The patient advocacy group PatientRightsAdvocate.org filed a lawsuit against the American Medical Association on August 13, 2026, in an Illinois district court.
• ▪PatientRightsAdvocate.org filed its lawsuit to obtain legal permission to publish the Current Procedural Terminology codebook online in a searchable, free format without facing copyright infringement litigation.

CPT code copyright dispute

• ▪The American Medical Association, which has developed and released Current Procedural Terminology codes since the 1960s, maintains that the numerical billing codes are private property.
• ▪PatientRightsAdvocate.org challenges the American Medical Association's copyright over the Current Procedural Terminology billing code system, arguing the association has no valid copyright over the codes.

Federal law incorporation argument

• ▪PatientRightsAdvocate.org argues that the Current Procedural Terminology system is not subject to copyright because federal and state laws have expressly incorporated the billing codes by reference.
• ▪PatientRightsAdvocate.org cited legal precedent in its complaint, asserting that "no one can own the law" once standards are incorporated into state and federal statutes.

AMA licensing fees revenue

• ▪The American Medical Association charges healthcare providers an annual fee of $82.50 for access to the Current Procedural Terminology system, alongside additional per-user charges.
• ▪A physical copy of the Current Procedural Terminology codebook costs $137.89, contributing to an estimated $300 million in annual revenue for the American Medical Association.

CMS alternative system exploration

• ▪The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services cited longstanding concerns regarding federal reliance on a private organization with an obvious conflict of interest as the reason for exploring CPT alternatives.
• ▪In its proposed physician payment rule for 2027, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services solicited public comments on potential alternatives to the Current Procedural Terminology system.

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