What are the new CPT code changes in 2026?


Editorial team Published on

The 2026 Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) code set features 418 total changes: 288 new codes, 84 deletions, and 46 revisions, which took effect on January 1, 2026.

Major Key Updates by Specialty

1. Surgery and Cardiovascular

  • Lower Extremity Revascularization (LER): Codes 37220–37235 were deleted and replaced by 46 new codes (37254–37299) for percutaneous and open occlusive disease treatment.
  • Thoracic Aorta (TEVAR): Revised bundled services and updated endoprosthesis codes covering all anatomical sites of the thoracic aorta (including options covering or not covering the left subclavian artery).
  • Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI): Updated guidance and new codes for complex/bifurcation lesions (92930) and chronic total occlusions (92945), alongside several deletions of older PCI codes.
  • General Surgery: Added endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty code 43889 and replaced Category III code 0600T with Category I code 47384 for percutaneous liver tumor IRE (irreversible electroporation) ablation.
  • Baroreflex Activation Therapy (BAT): Deleted old Category III codes and replaced them with new permanent surgical codes for system implantation, revision, replacement, removal, and monitoring.

2. Digital Health & Remote Monitoring

  • Shorter-Duration Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM): Added new codes for shorter monitoring periods (2 to 15 days within 30 days, such as 99445 and 99470) while revising existing codes (99453, 99454).
  • Treatment Management: Added new time-based management thresholds (such as 10 minutes monthly).
  • Telehealth: Expanded updates to Appendices P and T regarding synchronous audio-visual and audio-only service distinctions.

3. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Analytics

  • Category I AI Codes: Introduced new Category I codes for AI-driven coronary risk and plaque analysis (replacing old Category III codes 0623T–0626T with 75577), as well as AI services for multispectral burn imaging and cardiac dysfunction detection.

4. Audiology

  • Hearing Device Services: Replaced legacy hearing aid codes (92590–92595) with 12 new time-based audiological service codes (92628–92642) covering candidacy evaluation, hearing aid selection, fitting, follow-up, and verification via the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

5. Pathology, Laboratory, and Radiology

  • Pathology & Lab: Added 86 new codes (including 79 proprietary laboratory analyses) covering CNS tumor DNA methylation, heavy metal testing, and infectious disease panels.
  • Radiology: Updated head/neck CT/CTA and CT cerebral perfusion examinations, plus new Category III emerging technology codes.

To review the full official index or verify code descriptors, consult the American Medical Association (AMA) CPT 2026 code set.