TL;DR: The AMA released the CPT 2027 code set on September 9, 2026, with 453 editorial changes: 299 new codes, 74 revisions and 80 deletions. It adds 10 new AI-related codes (43 in total), replaces the global maternity care bundle with a new framework, and changes codes for ventricular assist devices, diaphragmatic hernia repair, prostate biopsy, biofeedback, radiology and sleep studies. The codes take effect January 1, 2027, which is 72 days from today. For exam candidates the more urgent question is which code book you may bring. AAPC says its exams use the current calendar year’s code sets, updates them every January, and does not allow an upcoming year’s books. AHIMA’s current CCS list requires 2026 books and says nothing about 2027. If you test before January, study and bring the 2026 CPT. If you test in 2027, plan for the 2027 edition, but confirm the exact cutover with AAPC or AHIMA before you buy or book.
Quick Facts
| Item | Detail |
| Released | September 9, 2026 (AMA press release) |
| Effective date | January 1, 2027 (AMA’s release says “January 1” without the year; two news outlets state January 1, 2027) |
| Total editorial changes | 453 |
| New codes | 299 |
| Revised codes | 74 |
| Deleted codes | 80 |
| AI-related codes | 10 new, 43 in total |
| Headline areas | Maternity care, ventricular assist devices, diaphragmatic hernia repair, prostate biopsy, biofeedback, radiology, sleep medicine |
| Compared with CPT 2026 | 418 changes (288 new, 46 revised, 84 deleted), so 2027 has 35 more changes |
| AAPC exam rule | Current calendar year’s code sets; upcoming year’s books not allowed; AMA Professional edition only for CPT |
| AHIMA CCS rule | 2026 books required (list effective May 1, 2026); no statement about 2027 |
| AAPC 2027 CPT book | Listed at US$127.99, pre-order, publication date October 15, 2026 |
| Salary figures | Omitted: a code-set update does not change what any credential pays, and no source isolates the effect |
What the AMA Released
The AMA’s release gives these counts. We checked the arithmetic: 299 + 74 + 80 = 453.
| CPT 2027 | CPT 2026 | Difference | |
| Release date | September 9, 2026 | September 11, 2025 | 2 days earlier |
| New codes | 299 | 288 | +11 |
| Revised codes | 74 | 46 | +28 |
| Deleted codes | 80 | 84 | -4 |
| Total editorial changes | 453 | 418 | +35 (about 8%) |
CPT 2026 figures come from the AMA’s 2026 release, and 288 + 46 + 84 = 418. So 2027 is a slightly larger update, with far more revisions than last year. Revisions matter for exam candidates because a code you know can still be the right code with a changed guideline or descriptor.
The AMA says the update reflects advances in medicine, surgery and diagnostics and supports billing, interoperability, value-based care and quality measurement. AMA President Willie Underwood III said, “Medicine advances at an extraordinary pace, and the CPT code set must advance with it.”
One date detail: the AMA’s release says the code set takes effect on “January 1” and does not name the year. Healthcare Finance News and Radiology Business state January 1, 2027, which matches the CPT 2027 name and the usual annual cycle.
Where the Changes Land
| Area | What the AMA says | Who feels it |
| Maternity care | A revised framework replaces the older global maternity bundle and covers antepartum, labor, delivery and postpartum care. The AMA says it was released early to support implementation | OB/GYN and women’s health coders. One of the biggest conceptual changes for the exam |
| AI services | 10 new AI-related codes, 43 in total. The AI taxonomy (Appendix S) was updated to guide descriptor terminology | Radiology, cardiology and any coder working with software-assisted services |
| Ventricular assist devices | Three new left ventricular assist device codes, plus new and revised guidelines | Cardiac surgery and inpatient coders |
| Hernia repair | Nine new codes for diaphragmatic hernia repair, covering traumatic and non-traumatic cases and open, laparoscopic and thoracoscopic approaches | Surgical coders |
| Prostate biopsy | Updated codes and guidelines with more data specificity | Urology coders |
| Biofeedback | A new time-based code structure | Behavioral health and physical medicine coders |
| Radiology | New and revised codes, plus a new table for head and neck magnetic resonance angiography | Radiology coders |
| Sleep medicine | Six new codes for unattended sleep studies, including services delivered outside traditional sleep centers | Sleep medicine and neurology coders |
Reported by vendors, not by the AMA
Two publishers describe additional changes. We could not confirm these in the AMA’s release, which does not mention them.
| Area | Reported change | Source type |
| Evaluation and Management | Revisions to care management services codes, no count given | MedLearn sales page |
| Behavioral health | Six new codes and eight revised codes for adaptive behavior assessment and treatment, including non-face-to-face services | MedLearn sales page |
| Radiology | Three new Category I codes and six revised codes | MedLearn sales page |
| Pathology | More granular molecular pathology codes, an alphabetical analyte list and an appendix on multianalyte assays with algorithmic analyses | AAPC’s 2027 CPT book page |
These are descriptions of what a book covers, so treat them as pointers about where to look, not as a verified change log.
Which Code Book Can You Bring? The Part That Decides Your Study Plan
This is the question most candidates actually need answered. The rules differ by credentialing body, and neither has announced a 2027 cutover date in the pages we read.
AAPC (CPC, COC, CPB and other AAPC exams)
AAPC’s own pages say:
- “All AAPC exams are based on the current calendar year’s code sets.”
- “AAPC exams are updated every January for the new code sets.”
- Books from the preceding year, the current year, or both may be used, with one copy of each book allowed.
- “Books older than one year are are NOT allowed for exam use.”
- “Upcoming year’s books are NOT allowed for exam use.”
- CPT must be the AMA Professional edition only, and no other publisher is allowed.
- eBooks are allowed for exams “at this time.”
AAPC’s page does not give a specific cutover time on January 1. It says only that exams update every January.
| You test | Books to bring (our reading of AAPC’s rules) | Study from |
| Before January 1, 2027 | 2026 CPT (the 2025 edition is also within the one-year rule, but 2026 is the current edition) | 2026 codes |
| In January 2027 or later | 2027 CPT (the 2026 edition falls within the one-year rule, but the exam is built on 2027) | 2027 codes |
| Right around January 1 | Unclear. AAPC says exams update “every January” without a day | Ask AAPC before booking |
| A retake in 2027 after a 2026 attempt | Use 2027 content | 2027 codes |
AAPC’s 2027 CPT book page says the book can be used on AAPC certification exams, lists it at US$127.99 with a publication date of October 15, 2026 and describes it as pre-order. That does not conflict with the “upcoming year’s books are not allowed” rule: you can buy the 2027 book now, but you should not bring it to a 2026 exam.
AHIMA (CCS, CCS-P, CCA)
AHIMA’s current CCS list says:
- “CCS 2026 Exam Required Code Books Effective 05/01/2026.”
- The table header reads “must be 2026 versions.”
- Candidates must bring a 2026 ICD-10-CM book, a 2026 ICD-10-PCS book and the AMA’s CPT 2026 Professional Edition (ISBN 978-1-64016-322-5).
- “Only books included in the list below will be allowed in the test center.”
- Candidates without the correct books will not be allowed to test and will forfeit their exam fees.
- The list was updated January 13, 2026 and says nothing about 2027 books.
AHIMA’s older announcements page, which covers 2020 and 2021, said 2020 code books would be used through April 30, 2021 and 2021 books would take effect May 1, 2021. That suggests AHIMA’s lists have changed in the spring, not in January, but we found no statement that the same pattern applies to 2027. Treat it as a pattern, not a promise.
| You test | Books to bring for CCS | Study from |
| Now through the end of AHIMA’s 2026 list period | 2026 books on AHIMA’s list, including the 2026 CPT Professional Edition | 2026 codes |
| After AHIMA publishes a 2027 list | Whatever the 2027 list requires | Check AHIMA’s page |
| Spring 2027 | Unknown. Check AHIMA | Verify before buying |
The practical risk is financial. Showing up with the wrong CPT edition at an AHIMA test center means forfeiting the exam fee. Check AHIMA’s current list on the day you schedule and again the week of your exam.
The ICD-10-CM question runs in parallel
The new ICD-10-CM fiscal year 2027 code set took effect October 1, 2026. That is a separate update from CPT, with its own exam-book implications, and we cover it in ICD-10-CM FY2027 Updates for CPC and CCS Exams. CPT changes on January 1. ICD-10-CM changes on October 1. A candidate sitting in early 2027 will see both. For last year’s counts and the earlier CPT 2026 changes, see our medical coding updates guide.
Timeline: Sept 2026 to Spring 2027
| Date | Event | Source |
| September 9, 2026 | AMA releases CPT 2027 | AMA |
| October 1, 2026 | ICD-10-CM FY2027 takes effect | CMS, via our companion post |
| October 15, 2026 | AAPC lists the 2027 CPT book’s publication date | AAPC |
| November 18 to 20, 2026 | AMA’s CPT & RBRVS 2027 Annual Symposium on coding guidance and payment policy | AMA |
| January 1, 2027 | CPT 2027 codes take effect. AAPC exams update “every January” | AMA, AAPC |
| January 2027 | AAPC code book training registration opens (free CEU with the 2027 CPT book) | AAPC’s book page |
| May 1, 2027 | AHIMA book-list change date if the earlier spring pattern holds | Pattern only, unconfirmed |
| Today | 72 days before January 1, 2027 and 114 days after the AMA release | Our count |
What to Study, by Credential
Our suggestions follow from where the changes land.
If you are preparing for the CPC (AAPC)
- Decide your exam window first. Study the codes you will actually be tested on. Before January, that is 2026.
- Learn the maternity change conceptually. The bundle replaced by an antepartum-to-postpartum framework affects how you read the whole OB section.
- Do not memorize individual new codes yet. The exam tests whether you can find the right code in the book, so learn the guidelines and layout.
- Mark your 2027 book by changed section, not by cover to cover. Appendices and summaries of additions, revisions and deletions help.
- Add a day of practice with Appendix S terminology if your specialty touches AI-assisted services.
Practice material for the credential is on our CPC exam page and the free CPC practice test. Check which code year any practice set was built for, because question sets written for 2026 may reference codes that change in 2027.
If you are preparing for the CCS (AHIMA)
- Buy the books on AHIMA’s current list, not the 2027 books, unless AHIMA publishes a 2027 list.
- Watch AHIMA’s page, since the list can change and mistakes cost the exam fee.
- Treat CPT as one third of your books. You also need ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS from the approved list.
For a comparison of credentials, see CPC vs other medical coding certifications, CCS-P vs CPC and CPB vs CPC.
If you are already certified
Code updates count toward continuing education at both AAPC and AHIMA. Our guide on medical coding certification renewal and CEU requirements covers the rules. AAPC’s 2027 CPT book page also lists a free CEU with purchase.
If you are comparing coding credentials by earnings, our coding certification salary guide is the place to start, though we do not quote pay figures here.
AI Codes: What We Know
The AMA says 10 new AI-related codes bring the total to 43, and that the AI taxonomy (Appendix S) was updated to guide descriptor terminology. Healthcare Finance News and Radiology Business repeat the counts. According to Radiology Business, the American College of Radiology is reviewing the changes, particularly those involving AI, and plans to publish a summary of 2027 radiology-relevant changes in the coming weeks.
CPT 2026 also added several AI-related codes, including augmentative and assistive tools for coronary plaque, cardiac risk, burn wound healing and cardiac dysfunction detection. The AMA’s 2026 release does not give a total.
A policy blog by Bruce Quinn, a physician and policy analyst, wrote in July 2026 that the AMA had published a greatly revised Appendix S and was changing the CPT new-code process with added documentation requirements for AI and software applications. That is one author’s view, not an AMA statement, and it concerns how new codes get created, not how you use existing ones.
For exam candidates, the useful point is limited: the AI codes are a small share of the 299 new codes, and an exam is more likely to test code selection and guidelines than AI taxonomy.
Background: The Debate Around CPT
News coverage of the 2027 release carried a second storyline. A patient advocacy group has sued the AMA to invalidate its copyrights on the grounds that federal regulations and state laws incorporate the codes. CMS sought public feedback on alternatives to CPT. Critics cite licensing costs and the size of the code set, which TechTarget reports as over 7,800 codes. The AMA calls CPT “the backbone of health data interoperability.”
None of this changes your exam today. AAPC and AHIMA both require the AMA’s CPT edition, and the 2027 set is the one taking effect January 1. We mention it so you are not surprised if you see it in a headline.
Where Sources Disagree
| Question | Version A | Version B | Our read |
| Effective year | AMA says “January 1,” no year | Healthcare Finance News and Radiology Business say January 1, 2027 | January 1, 2027 |
| Radiology change size | AMA: “new and revised codes” | MedLearn: three new Category I and six revised | MedLearn’s counts are a vendor description |
| Behavioral health changes | Not in AMA’s release | MedLearn: six new, eight revised | Unconfirmed |
| Care management revisions | Not in AMA’s release | MedLearn: revisions to care management codes | Unconfirmed |
| Maternity detail | AMA: framework replaces global bundle | MedLearn: global codes deleted, new labor management and delivery codes | Consistent in direction, counts unknown |
| Category III codes | Not mentioned by AMA, Radiology Business or Healthcare Finance News | Not described elsewhere | Not covered in the sources we read |
| 2027 AAPC cutover | AAPC: exams update “every January” | No day given | Ask AAPC |
| AHIMA 2027 list | None published when we read the CCS page | Past pattern suggests spring | Unknown |
| Telehealth and remote monitoring | Not mentioned in the AMA’s 2027 release | CPT 2026 had five short-duration remote monitoring codes | No 2027 change reported |
FAQS
When was the CPT 2027 code set released?
The AMA released it on September 9, 2026, from Chicago.
When does CPT 2027 take effect?
January 1, 2027. The AMA’s release says “January 1” without the year, and news coverage states 2027.
How many codes changed in CPT 2027?
453 editorial changes: 299 new codes, 74 revisions and 80 deletions.
How does that compare with CPT 2026?
CPT 2026 had 418 changes: 288 new, 46 revised and 84 deleted. So 2027 has 35 more changes, with 28 more revisions.
How many AI-related codes are there now?
The AMA added 10 new AI-related codes in 2027, bringing the total to 43.
What changes in maternity care coding?
A revised framework replaces the global maternity care bundle and covers antepartum, labor, delivery and postpartum care. The AMA released it early to support implementation.
Which CPT book can I use on the AAPC exam?
AAPC says exams use the current calendar year’s code sets, books older than one year are not allowed, an upcoming year’s books are not allowed, and CPT must be the AMA Professional edition.
Can I bring 2027 books to a 2026 AAPC exam?
No. AAPC states upcoming year’s books are not allowed for exam use.
Which CPT book do I need for the AHIMA CCS exam?
AHIMA’s current list requires the AMA’s CPT 2026 Professional Edition. It was effective May 1, 2026 and says nothing about 2027.
Should I buy the 2027 CPT book now?
If you will test in 2027, you can buy it, since AAPC lists it with an October 15, 2026 publication date. Do not bring it to a 2026 exam, and for AHIMA wait for a 2027 list.
Is CPT 2027 going to change the CPC exam content outline?
We found no announcement. AAPC says exams update every January for the new code sets.
Do code updates count as continuing education?
Yes at both AAPC and AHIMA. See our renewal guide for the rules. AAPC also lists a free CEU with its 2027 CPT book.
