U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, has criticized the American Medical Association (AMA) for its control over the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) coding system. Cassidy claims the AMA is using its government-backed monopoly to impose high fees, which he argues contribute to increased health care costs for American families.
“I am particularly offended by the AMA abusing its government-endorsed CPT monopoly to charge every stakeholder in the health care system significant amounts of money while advancing an anti-patient agenda,” Cassidy wrote. “As Chairman of the HELP Committee, which has jurisdiction over HIPAA, I am actively reviewing the government-backed monopoly around CPT codes and the impact on patient health care costs, especially in the wake of the AMA’s anti-patient, anti-science advocacy efforts.”
The CPT coding system is a set of terms and codes used to report medical, surgical, and diagnostic services. The federal government requires the use of these codes for health care transactions under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), and the AMA has had exclusive rights to generate and update these codes since 1983.
Cassidy’s letter to Dr. Mukkamala, an AMA official, asks for detailed information on the revenue generated from the sale and licensing of CPT coding materials. He also questions the transparency of the AMA’s finances and seeks to know how much of its expenses support diversity, equity, and inclusion mandates and research related to gender transition care.
The senator noted that only about 26% of U.S. physicians are members of the AMA, raising concerns about how representative the organization’s process for updating CPT codes is for all providers.
Cassidy’s letter also references his ongoing efforts with Senate Republicans to ensure children are protected from what he describes as “woke health care entities ignoring science and undermining President Trump’s pro-patient, pro-family agenda.”
According to the information cited in the letter, the AMA generated $513.2 million in total revenue last year, with $281.4 million coming from books and digital content, which includes CPT code publications. The organization also reported $434.4 million in general and administrative expenses.
Cassidy has requested answers from the AMA by October 20, 2025.
