More Access. More Choice. Less Cost.

Secretary Kennedy raises concerns about the American Medical Association's (AMA) control over Current Procedural Terminology (CPT), but eliminating it is not the solution. Instead, it is crucial to maintain CPT while introducing competition and addressing the gaps in coverage to improve the healthcare system.

1. Importance of CPT: CPT serves as a crucial framework for coding medical services, facilitating claims and information flow in the healthcare system. Replacing it entirely would be costly and disruptive.

2. Need for Competition: Rather than dismantling CPT, introducing a complementary coding system can fill existing gaps. This would provide more options for healthcare providers and allow for better measurement of care effectiveness.

3. Cost of Healthcare: The U.S. spent around $5.3 trillion on healthcare in 2024, emphasizing the need for reform focused on access to care, which may lower overall costs. Earlier access to various treatments can prevent more significant health crises.

4. Broad Healthcare Workforce: Many licensed professionals provide necessary care outside of the traditional physician model. However, insufficient coding restricts their visibility and reimbursement, hindering broader access to care.

5. Policy Failure: The exclusivity of CPT limits recognition of non-physician services. Establishing a complementary coding framework can enhance data collection and policy evaluation, allowing for better insights into healthcare spending and outcomes.

Maintaining CPT while expanding the coding framework to include other licensed practitioners can facilitate better access to diverse healthcare options. By measuring outcomes and costs more effectively, the healthcare system can learn which services reduce expenses and improve patient care, ultimately leading to lower overall costs in a more transparent manner. 

https://brownstone.org/articles/more-access-more-choice-less-cost/