2026 CPT® Update at a Glance
The 2026 update includes approximately 288 new codes, 84 deletions, and 46 revisions with 418 changes in total. Even organizations that use only a limited portion of the code set are likely to be affected. Early planning is critical.
One of the most notable trends is the broader adoption of remote services, including new codes for short-duration remote physiologic monitoring (RPM) over 2–15 days within a 30-day period. A new code supports RPM treatment management when cumulative monthly time reaches 10–19 minutes, while 99457 and 99458 continue to apply for 20 minutes or more.
Revised reporting rules clarify that RPM and RTM device supply codes (99453, 99454; 98984–98986) may be billed when monitoring occurs on at least two days in a 30-day period. Telehealth coding, including hybrid audio/video and remote visits, continues to expand with more granular options.
AI- and Algorithm-Assisted Services
AI- and algorithm-assisted services are also more prominent in 2026. Documentation must increasingly reflect algorithm involvement, human oversight, versioning, and decision logic.
New Category III cardiology codes include 0992T and 0993T for analysis of perivascular fat to assess cardiac risk, with 0993T incorporating a concurrent CT scan. New Category I code 0710T supports noninvasive arterial plaque analysis, and 93799 may be used for other emerging cardiovascular services.
Additional codes relevant to neurology and systemic health risk assessment include new ECG algorithmic analysis codes such as 0902T and 0903T–0905T, a new code for algorithm-assisted detection of cardiac dysfunction, and Category I code 83884 for neurofilament light chain testing.
New codes for beta-amyloid and tau testing (82233, 82234, 84393, and 84395) support expanded evaluation of dementia and neurodegenerative diseases. Other specialties also see AI-driven additions, including chest imaging codes 0877T–0880T for CT-based diagnostic classification of interstitial lung disease and 0898T for noninvasive prostate estimation mapping using AI analysis.
Proprietary Laboratory Analyses (PLA)
A significant share of the updates, about 27 percent of all new codes, falls within the Proprietary Laboratory Analyses (PLA) category, reflecting rapid growth in genomics, advanced assays, and specialty diagnostics.
These alphanumeric PLA additions include areas such as oncology, obstetrics/gynecology, and infectious disease. Examples include:
- 0524U for preeclampsia testing
- 0543U for solid tumor profiling
- 0556U for respiratory infection identification
Practices and laboratories should carefully review these new codes, verify payer recognition, and update ordering, billing, and documentation workflows. Monitoring early 2026 denials will be essential to quickly resolve payer-specific issues.
Radiology and Procedural Coding Revisions
Several major revisions highlighted by the American College of Radiology take effect in 2026. Lower extremity revascularization coding undergoes a complete redesign, with deletion of legacy codes 37220–37235 and the introduction of approximately 46 new codes that reflect lesion complexity and multiple vascular territories, including inframalleolar interventions.
New Category I codes are also added for CTA of the head and neck, CT perfusion studies, and procedures such as Irreversible Electroporation, which now has dedicated reporting options.
Surgical and interventional practices must review how their workflows map to the new structure, ensure accurate use of modifiers and lesion-territory documentation, and update charge masters, encoder logic, and payer crosswalks.
Audiology and Hearing-Device Coding Overhaul
January 1, 2026 also brings a comprehensive overhaul to CPT coding for hearing-aid and hearing-device services. Legacy codes 92590–92595 will be deleted and replaced with 12 new codes that better align with contemporary audiology care.
Examples include 92628 for the first 30 minutes of hearing-aid candidacy evaluation, with time-based add-on code 92629. Other codes address:
- Device selection (92631/92632)
- Fitting (92634/92635)
- Post-fitting follow-up and behavioral verification (92636–92638)
- Electroacoustic verification (92641)
Audiology practices should audit current usage of the retiring codes, map each service component to the new structure, update documentation templates, and review payer policies to ensure proper alignment.
Deletions, Revisions, and Guideline Changes
Across the full code set, the AMA reports 84 deletions and 46 revisions, many of which affect bundling logic, guideline language, and descriptor terminology.
For example, vascular coding transitions from an anatomy-based structure to a complexity and territory based model, while radiation oncology and endovascular therapy codes such as 77014 and 77385/77386 are being deleted.
Revised guidelines introduce updated service-level hierarchies and remove outdated “simple/intermediate/complex” terminology. Billing teams should conduct a full gap analysis within their most frequently used code families, identify deleted codes lacking direct replacements, and update documentation, workflow expectations, and vendor tools before the new year.
Preparing for 2026 and Beyond
Overall, the 2026 CPT update represents more than an annual refresh. It signals the deep integration of remote monitoring, AI-assisted diagnostics, advanced laboratory testing, and increasingly complex procedural care into routine clinical practice.
Organizations that plan early and train their teams thoroughly will be best positioned to protect revenue, reduce coding errors, and minimize payer denials throughout 2026 and beyond.