FAQs about the AMA-required CPT® fee
Q: Aren't CPT® codes before in the public domain?
A: No, the American Medical Association (AMA) holds the copyright.
Q: Why haven’t I been charged for AMA CPT® codes before?
A: The AMA has increased the enforcement of its copyright. All practice management and EHR organizations are legally required to collect licensing fees annually for Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) codes on behalf of the AMA.
Q: So what's the fee?
A: For the 2024 calendar year, it's $18.00, plus a $1 processing fee, for every clinician, assistant, and trainee who has access to any area of Luminello that uses CPT® codes.
Q: Is that per year or month?
A: It's per year.
Q: Will assistants and trainees have to pay the AMA?
A: The practice owner pays on their behalf.
Q: For assistants and trainees, why do they get billed by AMA?
A: The AMA requires payment per unique user login to any CPT® content.
Q: For assistants or clinicians who work in more than one practice, will there be a fee for them for each practice?
A: Yes, the AMA requires the fee on a per-practice basis.
Q: Can you give me an example of how the fee works?
A: In one group, if there are two clinicians and one assistant who access CPT® content, then the fee is $57/calendar year, plus tax if applicable.
Q: Will I be charged sales tax for the AMA CPT® codes licensing fee?
A: Yes, if applicable in your state.
Q: Can I pay the AMA directly?
A: No, the AMA charges all EHR companies for using their CPT® codes. They require the EHR to collect the fees.
Q: What happens if I disagree with this fee and refuse to pay?
A: You may continue to use all non-billing areas of Luminello. However, any area that uses CPT® codes, including billing for notes, superbills, invoices, insurance claims submission, and reports, will be unavailable to your practice and your patients/clients. This includes past, current, and future use of these codes. Luminello is legally required to implement this functionality.
Q: I use other billing tools with these codes too. Do I only need to pay this fee once per year, per provider, or will I need to pay for each billing tool I use?
A: The AMA charges all practice management systems and EHRs a licensing fee per user for using the AMA CPT® Codes. We are unaware of how other billing software and solutions plan to accommodate these fees.
Q: What if I use my own billing codes, not the AMA's codes?
A: This is currently impossible due to the technical complexity of this. Please let us know if you would like to submit this as a feature request.
Q: If I invite an assistant or clinician to my practice, and they leave during the year and are replaced by a new assistant or clinician, does my practice have to pay again?
A: Yes, the AMA requires a fee per unique login.
Q: Can the fee be pro-rated?
A: No, the AMA does not allow for pro-rating.
Q: Is the fee refundable?
A: No, the AMA does not allow refunds.
Q: I've only used Luminello a day - do I have to pay this fee immediately?
A: No, the AMA allows 30 days of royalty-free access.
Q: How much does Luminello profit from these fees?
A: None. Given the amount of time Luminello has to spend to develop this functionality and provide customer support for it, Luminello is losing money.