Posted on 04/19/2025 2:39:21 PM PDT by Twotone
If you think the American Medical Association (AMA) is a credible group of doctors in white lab coats, think again. The AMA is a private trade association that wields vast influence over medical practices in this country, has found a government-mandated way to line its pockets, and promotes a radical trans agenda. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. needs to eliminate the AMA money grab to protect our families.
The Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes clinicians use to report services to health insurers have become a linchpin in the American health care system. These codes are federally mandated, and all health care providers must pay royalties to the AMA to use them. That’s a heck of a cash cow for the AMA.
In 2023, the AMA raked in a staggering $495 million in revenue. A full 62 percent, $308 million, came from royalties tied to the use of CPT codes. And every dollar is paid for by taxpayers, via Medicare and Medicaid, or employers and employees in the private health insurance market.
The AMA’s financial windfall is made possible by the federal government. In 1983, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) mandated that CPT codes be used to report services under Medicare Part B. By 1986, Medicaid programs also had to adopt these codes. The 1996 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) then solidified CPT codes as the national standard for electronic health transactions. These federal mandates essentially forced every health care provider to rely on the AMA’s CPT code system, creating a monopoly. Cha-ching!
(Excerpt) Read more at thefederalist.com ...
Thanks for posting this.
Only about 25% of physicians are members of the AMA. And even that number is infrared as residents and med students are given free memberships whether they want them or not.
All of these “professional” organizations seem to do little but milk us all for more money. They certainly are not policing bad actors, but encouraging bad actions.
I have gotten an invoice for my AMA “dues” every year since 1976.
I have never been a member and I have never paid a dime.
If Congress was a functioning organization, representing the people and caring about the financial solvency of the nation there would be a $300 million savings by end of the first day they are back in session from the Easter break. The House would pass a corrective bill Monday morning switching Medicare and Medicaid to a no cost code. The Senate would pass the bill in the afternoon snd Trump would sign by 5:00. Hospitals and insurance companies would have 90 days to comply. The vote would be unanimous in favor. $300 million is worth immediate action.
No doubt a federal judge will intervene. Since the Constitution gives Congress the power to regulate the jurisdiction of the federal courts the indicated action is to pass a bill the next day denying jurisdiction to the federal courts on issues related to Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal health care programs.
My prediction is none of the above will happen. A year from now the AMA will still be enjoying this windfall.
No wonder medical care is so expensive in the USA.
This is off the top of my head:
organ: HR-heart, LU-lung, etc.
type of treatment: CT-cut, CR-complete removal, SR-sectional removal, EX-examine, DG-diagnose, IR-irradiate, NU-nuclear irradiation, CH-chemotherapy, GA-general anesthesia, RA-regional anesthesia, UL-ultrasound, DP-device placement
rating method: N-numerical code[to be used if available], D-by difficulty, T-by time in minutes [if only choice]
The difficulty would be determined by calculation taking in various factors.
ER/off hours multiplier 1.5 (to be used only when necessary or required by law)
urgent care multiplier 1.2
brain multiplier 2
heart multiplier 1.5
cancer multiplier 1.1 plus .1 for each stage
general anesthetic multiplier 1.3
regional anesthetic multiplier 1.2
local anesthetic multiplier 1.1
....
stitch 1
staple 2
initial cut 10
first two inches of cutting 10 per inch
each additional inch 6 per inch
....
The letter groups and numerical items to be separated by dashs.
The Europeans probably use different coding systems.
As I recollect, the German one is public domain.
A European code system might be licensed for less.
Two things:
1. The AMA codes are matched to pricing by hospital and by insurer.
2. The AMA codes are unique so price comparisons with say Europe are not easy to make.
It’s difficult to find out how many MDs and nurses and other staff are Dems and GOP.
I’ve seen some articles on both sides but I am personally of the belief 70% of doctors and 90% of others are Dems. Just my opinion.
Maybe some are donating and can be tracked by some lists. I was able to find my dentist donated to the GOP candidate in Michigan. God bless him.
That old joke by the seriously injured gunshot victim Ronald Reagan as he went into surgery was he hoped all of them were Republicans. The doctors laughed and lied.
>I have never been a member and I have never paid a dime.<
That’s okay. Apparently I have been paying your dues.
EC
From the article:
“In 1983, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) mandated that CPT codes be used to report services under Medicare Part B.”
This looks to be exactly what the 2024 overturning of the Chevron case pointed to.
It opened the door to shut this whole thing down.
Wooo! That IS something that should be made to happen!
Along with lawyers.
Uh-oh. I knew I shouldn't have eaten those mushrooms. I meant to post it here. [blush]
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