AMA debuts CPT coding app

Chicago - The American Medical Association (AMA) has unveiled its first mobile application (app) for physicians - a tool to help doctors quickly find Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) billing codes. At the same time, the AMA announced its 2011 AMA App Challenge in an effort to find the next innovative idea for a medical app.

In a prepared statement, the AMA called the CPT app “an on-the-go reference guide that helps physicians determine the appropriate CPT code to use for billing.”

The app, compatible with Apple iPhone, iPod Touch and the iPad, allows physicians to digitally track CPT codes and email them anywhere. Users can also save their most frequently used codes by location or type of service.

The app is available free through the iTunes store.

For the 2011 AMA App Challenge, any U.S. physician, resident/fellow or medical student can submit his or her app idea online (at www.ama-assn.org) for a chance to have the AMA develop it. The AMA will accept submissions through June 30.

The association will choose two winners - one from the resident/fellow or medical student category and one from the physician category. Each winner will receive $2,500 in cash and prizes, plus a trip for two to New Orleans to see the idea unveiled at the AMA’s November meeting.