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Reposted by Alex Wayne

Dan Diamond @ddiamond.bsky.social · 1h

Huh — BILL CASSIDY, who chairs the Senate's health committee, is demanding answers from the American Medical Association over its coding system.

CASSIDY: "I am actively reviewing the government-backed monopoly around CPT codes and the impact on patient health care costs."

VIA ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION Bobby Mukkamala, M.D. President American Medical Association 330 N. Wabash Ave., Suite 39300 Chicago, IL 60611-5885 Dear Dr. Mukkamala, As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), I am writing to seek information regarding the American Medical Association’s (AMA’s) costly monopoly over the Current Procedural Terminology® (CPT) coding system. The AMA maintains and annually updates the CPT coding system as a standardized set of descriptive terms and identifying codes used primarily to report medical, surgical, and diagnostic services performed by physicians and other health care professionals. CPT codes are essential for accurate medical billing and claims processing by both public and private health insurers. The codes enable communication and efficient processing of information throughout the entire health care system, and they are relied upon by providers, suppliers, government agencies, and ultimately patients. Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) (42 U.S. Code § 1320d-2), the federal government mandates the use of standard code sets for the purposes of conducting transactions. In the implementing regulations (45 CFR § 162.1002), CPT codes, as trademarked by the AMA, were selected as one of the standard code sets that must be used. As a result, the government has endorsed a coding monopoly for the AMA. 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. The enormous revenue from offering these required tools while advocating non-evidence-based policies raises questions about the AMA’s commitment to physicians and the patients they serve. The AMA characterizes the CPT coding system as “a shared language facilitating the delivery of quality care.”1 Shared does not translate to free, however. The AMA char…

agreement. The AMA also sells subscriptions to “CPT Assistant online,” which provides access to articles and resources related to CPT codes. Last year, the AMA generated over $500 million in revenue.2 More than half of that revenue came from the publication of books and digital content, including the annual publication of CPT codes that are used to code for medical procedures and services.3 CPT codes are required to be used by providers to bill for services, and the AMA has had an exclusive monopoly on publishing these codes for over 40 years.4 Your organization has abused this government-backed monopoly by charging exorbitant fees to anyone using the CPT code set, including doctors, hospitals, health plans, and health IT vendors. These fees inevitably are passed on by CPT users to patients in the form of higher health care costs. This is anti-patient and anti-doctor. 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. To that end, I request answers to the following questions by October 20, 2025: 1. One of the AMA’s primary activities is generating and updating CPT codes used to code for medical procedures and services. The AMA has held the exclusive right to generate these codes since 1983.5 This process involves internal deliberations before a public stakeholder session prior to finalizing codes. While the AMA holds an outsized role in this process, only approximately 26% of physicians in the United States are members of the AMA.6 a. What steps has the AMA leadership taken to ensure that this mandatory process incorporates the feedback and concerns of all providers? 2. Last year, the AMA generated total revenue of $513.2 million.7 $281.4 million of that amount was generated from “books and digital content.”8 However, AMA does not provide transparenc…

b. What were the administrative costs associated with generating CPT coding materials? c. How does the AMA calculate the for-sale price of CPT coding materials? d. How has the for-sale price of CPT coding materials changed in the last five years? e. In the last five years, how much revenue has the AMA generated from the sale of CPT coding materials and related products and subscriptions? 3. In 2024, AMA also recorded $434.4 million in “general and administrative expenses.”9 a. What amount of these expenses were used to support work associated with DEI mandates? b. What amount of these expenses were used to support research supporting gender transition care? Sincerely, ____________________________ Bill Cassidy, M.D. Chairman U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

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Reposted by Alex Wayne

KFF Health News @kffhealthnews.org · 1d

Democrats’ funding proposal would restore access to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act marketplace for legal immigrants who will lose access once certain provisions of the Republicans’ tax and spending law take effect. kffhealthnews.org/news/article...

GOP Falsely Ties Shutdown to Democrats’ Alleged Drive To Give All Immigrants Health Care - KFF Health News

Immigrants living in the U.S. without legal status are generally ineligible for federally funded health care programs. Democrats’ funding proposal would restore access to Medicaid and the Affordable C...

kffhealthnews.org

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Alex Wayne @aawayne.bsky.social · 5d

"Rodrick Johnson, 67, is one of many residents who were detained by federal agents during the South Shore raid. A U.S. citizen, he said agents broke through his door and dragged him out in zip ties."

This incident demands a lot more scrutiny.

www.wbez.org/immigration/...

Massive immigration raid on Chicago apartment building leaves residents reeling: 'I feel defeated'

The Department of Homeland Security said federal agents with Border Patrol, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arrested 37 people in the raid.

www.wbez.org

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Alex Wayne @aawayne.bsky.social · 6d

In Colorado (and lots of other places), health providers garnish people's wages for medical debt with little oversight. State hospital association's comment:

“In some ways, I think it's funny to be asked the question."

Important story by @raelnb.bsky.social

kffhealthnews.org/news/article...

Workers’ Wages Siphoned To Pay Medical Bills, Despite Consumer Protections - KFF Health News

Health care providers and debt collectors are biting from people’s paychecks to cover old medical bills. A KFF Health News investigation in Colorado shows that this aggressive collection practice is w...

kffhealthnews.org

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Reposted by Alex Wayne

Sahil Kapur @sahilkapur.bsky.social · 6d

New Washington Post poll on who voters blame for the government shutdown:

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Reposted by Alex Wayne

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 11d

The round-the clock work of officials inside NIH helped put the agency on track to get all of its grant money out to labs across the country, the majority of its nearly $48 billion budget.

It was a feat that earlier this year seemed nearly impossible.

NIH pulled off a ‘near miracle.’ Scientists say there’s still a problem.

The National Institutes of Health is on track to give away all of its grant money to labs, but research on cancer, aging and diabetes is still being left behind.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Reposted by Alex Wayne

Heather Knight @heatherknightsf.bsky.social · 11d

Scoop: Trump fired a U.S. Attorney in Sacramento less than six hours after she told his California border patrol chief to abide by court orders and the Constitution while conducting his immigration raids.

With @haleaziz.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/26/u...

Trump Fired a U.S. Attorney Who Insisted on Following a Court Order

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Alex Wayne

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 13d

In @nytopinion.nytimes.com

The Trump administration’s autism project “is built on the premise that an autism diagnosis is a terrible tragedy and that scientists and doctors have failed,” Roy Grinker, a cultural anthropologist and the father of an autistic child, says. “But science has not failed.”

Opinion | Autism Has Never Been One Thing

We’ve come too far to go back to a time when autism was defined solely in terms of deficits and mothers were made to feel guilty.

nyti.ms

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Reposted by Alex Wayne

Helen Branswell 🇨🇦 @helenbranswell.bsky.social · 15d

"I’m not a doctor," President Trump said yesterday. That acknowledged lack of medical credentials did not stop him from offering medical opinions on risk factors for autism that the preponderance of the scientific evidence does not support. www.statnews.com/2025/09/22/t...

Trump, questioning vaccine safety, pushes major changes to how kids get shots

At a White House event, Trump linked vaccines to autism and urged major changes in how kids get their shots.

www.statnews.com

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Alex Wayne @aawayne.bsky.social · 14d

uhhh wut

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 14d

As the UN General Assembly met in New York, the Trump administration blocked the Iranian delegation from shopping at Costco or other wholesale retailers, an apparent bid to inflame Iranian public opinion.

Iranian Diplomats Are Barred From Shopping at Costco While Visiting U.S.

As the U.N. General Assembly met in New York, the Trump administration forbade the Iranian delegation from shopping at discount wholesalers, an apparent bid to inflame Iranian public opinion.

nyti.ms

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Reposted by Alex Wayne

Amy Maxmen, PhD @amymaxmen.bsky.social · 15d

🚨 "Sick to my stomach."

That's how the researcher who found a link between Tylenol and autism felt when she realized MAHA would link her analysis to vaccines.

My latest exclusive @kffhealthnews.org
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...

‘Sick to My Stomach’: Trump Distorts Facts on Autism, Tylenol, and Vaccines, Scientists Say - KFF Health News

The White House’s autism announcement exaggerates links to Tylenol, misleads on vaccines, and sets back the field by ignoring decades of research, scientists say.

kffhealthnews.org

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Alex Wayne @aawayne.bsky.social · 15d

NEWS: Scientists say the president of the United States and his health secretary distorted the facts behind Tylenol and autism, potentially setting back research and causing real harm to mothers and kids.

By @amymaxmen.bsky.social

kffhealthnews.org/news/article...

‘Sick to My Stomach’: Trump Distorts Facts on Autism, Tylenol, and Vaccines, Scientists Say - KFF Health News

The White House’s autism announcement exaggerates links to Tylenol, misleads on vaccines, and sets back the field by ignoring decades of research, scientists say.

kffhealthnews.org

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Reposted by Alex Wayne

Michael McKee @mckonomy.bsky.social · 18d

*TRUMP'S NYT LAWSUIT DISMISSED FOR NOW FOR BEING TOO LONG

It was 85 pages

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Reposted by Alex Wayne

Arielle Zionts @ajzionts.bsky.social · 19d

The Trump admin has pushed a significant amount of health costs to states, where many already need to tighten their budgets due to declining tax revenue, loss of pandemic money+economic uncertainty

But I also found examples of them spending to replace federal cuts:
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...

In the Fallout From Trump’s Health Funding Cuts, States Face Tough Budget Decisions - KFF Health News

The Trump administration has pushed a significant amount of health costs to states, whose budgets may already be strained by declining state tax revenues, a slowdown in pandemic spending, and economic...

kffhealthnews.org

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Reposted by Alex Wayne

Sahil Kapur @sahilkapur.bsky.social · 20d

House Democratic leaders issue a joint statement calling on FCC’s Brendan Carr to resign, labeling his actions a “corrupt abuse of power.”

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Reposted by Alex Wayne

Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 20d

Here's a clip from one of the church services — i.e., Prestonwood Baptist in Texas.

Reminder: As the pastor, Jack Graham, makes clear, this is not an actual clip of Charlie Kirk. He never said these words. This is an entirely AI-generated fabrication that, nonetheless, garners a standing ovation.

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Reposted by Alex Wayne

Citizen Cohn / Jonathan Cohn @citizencohn.bsky.social · 20d

Hepatitis B can lead to cirrhosis, cancer, death

We have reduced its incidence among children by 99% — a huge achievement

Today RFK Jr’s hand-picked vaccine committee could unravel it www.thebulwark.com/p/rfk-jr-ken...

RFK Jr.’s Crusade Against Vaccines Hits Its Action Phase

His anti-vax–stacked advisory committee is expected to revise rules for life-saving hepatitis B vax.

www.thebulwark.com

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Alex Wayne @aawayne.bsky.social · 22d

NEWS: By vaccinating babies at birth, the U.S. nearly eradicated hepatitis-B in children.

Kennedy's vaccine advisory panel is expected this week to recommend delaying the shot, opening a window for kids to be infected.

Exclusive by @jackie-fortier.bsky.social

kffhealthnews.org/news/article...

RFK Jr.’s Vaccine Panel Expected To Recommend Delaying Hepatitis B Shot for Children - KFF Health News

A federal vaccine panel, recently reshaped by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is expected to vote on delaying the hepatitis B shot for newborns. Pediatricians warn that coul...

kffhealthnews.org

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Alex Wayne @aawayne.bsky.social · 26d

NEWS: Pretty wild exclusive from @arthurallen202.bsky.social -- Trump's team wants to abandon the whole FDA system of having outside experts review the evidence for new drugs and devices.

They maintain releasing "complete response letters" is more transparent.

kffhealthnews.org/news/article...

Under Trump, FDA Seeks To Abandon Expert Reviews of New Drugs - KFF Health News

Advisory committee meetings help FDA scientists make decisions and increase public understanding of drug regulation, and abandoning them doesn’t make sense, former officials said.

kffhealthnews.org

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Alex Wayne @aawayne.bsky.social · 26d

“Social media is a cancer on our society right now.” — Cox

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Alex Wayne @aawayne.bsky.social · 26d

Spencer Cox is an impressive guy.

Alex Wayne @aawayne.bsky.social · 27d

* And J.J. Evans joins our GOAT copy desk, where he'll help ensure stories from Amanda, Claudia and the rest of our crew are airtight. J.J. comes to us most recently from the Washington Post, where he worked on stories from some of their top reporters.

Can't wait to for them to join us. More TK.

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Alex Wayne @aawayne.bsky.social · 27d

* And veteran health care reporter Claudia Boyd-Barrett will join us to cover Southern California, including the intersection of immigration and health policy.

She wrote for us in July on immigrants weighing the risk of deportation against seeking health care:

kffhealthnews.org/news/article...

California Immigrants Weigh Health Coverage Against Deportation Risk - KFF Health News

Immigrants without legal status who live in the state are facing a Medi-Cal enrollment freeze next year. But the spate of immigration raids has raised fears that signing up before the deadline will pu...

kffhealthnews.org

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Alex Wayne @aawayne.bsky.social · 27d

NEWS of the hiring sort:

* We've landed Amanda Seitz, an ace health policy reporter for the Associated Press, to help us cover 🙌all of this🙌 in Washington.

She helped nail a big scoop in June: RFK Jr. secretly ordered CMS to hand over data to deportation officials. apnews.com/article/medi...

Trump administration gives personal data of immigrant Medicaid enrollees to deportation officials

President Donald Trump's administration has released to deportation officials the personal data for millions of Medicaid enrollees, including their immigration status.

apnews.com

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Reposted by Alex Wayne

Arielle Zionts @ajzionts.bsky.social · 29d

Independent rural hospitals are increasingly joining networks that share resources and bargaining power. The goal is to save money and improve patient care without losing their independence by joining a large health system.

Reporting from Bowman, ND:

kffhealthnews.org/news/article...

Instead of Selling, Some Rural Hospitals Band Together To Survive - KFF Health News

Independent and rural hospitals are collaborating with their neighbors to shore up their finances instead of joining larger health systems to stay afloat.

kffhealthnews.org

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