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wtoconnor

User Profile Image wtoconnor
Member since : Jun-06-2009 (Verified)
1 Ideas, 2 Comments, 78 Votes

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Ideas Posted

The AMA currently maintains a copyright on the medical billing codes. The Government should set a free and open standard leveling the playing and providing access to smaller companies that will innovate in this area.
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Comments Posted

wtoconnor 9 months ago
I would would not disagree with that either. A comprehensive and open billing standard would do wonders for the industry and productivity. The problem is when confusion reigns there are excessive profits to be made. The insurance companies and the AMA have incentives to maintain the status quo.
wtoconnor 9 months ago
The codes that associate a medical procedure with a billing code that the insurance company uses is copyrighted by the AMA. They are known as CPT code. So the only way to use the codes (for instance in a piece of software that does billing) is to pay the AMA a hefty fee. A better explanation is here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Current_Procedural_Terminology