Register for April CPT in Boston; Lab Codes Posted (April 26)

AMA CPT ahs opened the registration page for the next Editorial Panel meeting, April 29-May 2, 2026 in Boston.  That's Westin, Copley Place.

Find it here:

https://www.ama-assn.org/membership/events/cpt-editorial-panel-meeting

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The full public agenda for all codes will be released on March 6 (link above.)  Because they travel through several, serial subcommittees, Lab Codes are released for comment on April 26, link above.

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LAB CODES here:

https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/may-2026-lab-mopath-agenda.pdf

You can request code packets to common on starting NOW and must submit comments back by March 12.   Click on the "submitting a request" in the agenda pdf prologue.

• NOTICE –INTERESTED PARTY PROCESS Upon review of this agenda, if the reviewer believes that they will need to provide comment on an issue, they must seek Interested Party status by submitting a request for a copy of the application and associated materials. Requests are to be submitted through the Smart App’s CPT Interested Party dashboard. Those interested in review of the agenda materials are required to complete this form in full.

There are a LOT of Category I & Category III codes, far more than typical.  This is the last cycle of new codes that will still enter the summer 2026 pricing process.

• Cat 1, "POLE" gene
• MAAA, multiple sclerosis
• MAAA, CNS methylation
• MAAA, revise text 81518 re breast cancer
• MAAA, revise text 81542, prostate, remove "microarray"
• Cat 1, testing for GFAP (glial protein)
• Cat 1, pTau217/Abeta1-42 ratio
• Cat 1, candida fungi PCR
• Cat 1, 87800, 87801, add "single result" (pathogen)
• Cat 1, rubeola by PCR

Digital pathology codes;

• Cat 1, PAP test, Digital algorithmic classification
• Cat 1, revise 88363 select specimen for [bladder prognostic testing] [sic]
• Cat III, histomorphology augmentative software [AI], pancreatic cancer
• Cat III, ex-vivo profiling of fresh tissue
• Cat III, AI image analysis of breast cancer HER2-HR+
• Cat III, AI image analysis prostate cancer

Re 88363 revision, this is a code for review of sections and blocks, for sendout for molecular studies (e.g. DNA from FFPE). It's not specific to bladder cancer now and I suspect this is just one application.

Re the "fresh tissue," see this from Chat GPT:

    This might refer to technology such as ex vivo confocal microscopy (EVCM) or closely related platforms (e.g., reflectance confocal microscopy of freshly excised tissue). These systems image fresh, unfixed tissue without freezing, sectioning, or routine H&E processing. In dermatology and surgical oncology, they are being positioned—carefully—as a potential alternative or adjunct to frozen section histology, especially in the context of Mohs surgery. 

    A  freshly excised tissue specimen is placed on a microscope stage, sometimes stained with a rapid fluorescent dye (e.g., acridine orange), and imaged optically using confocal principles. The system generates high-resolution images that approximate histologic sections—often digitally rendered to resemble H&E.

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You can register for in person or zoom attendance.  In-person usually sells out (450 people for this upcoming session.) Even if it didn't sell out sooner, they list April 13 as the deadline for in person registration. You have to set up an email logon at AMA itself (free) to get into the reservation system for CPT meetings.