What You Should Know:
– Cleerly, a pioneer in advanced cardiovascular imaging, is celebrating a significant victory in the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. The American Medical Association (AMA) has officially approved a Category I CPT code for Cleerly’s AI-QCT advanced plaque analysis.
– The decision, effective January 1, 2026, marks a major step forward in recognizing and reimbursing AI-driven technologies that improve patient outcomes in cardiovascular care.
From Category III to Category I: A Transformative Shift
This new CPT code signifies a transition from the Category III codes approved in 2020, which were considered temporary. Category I codes are reserved for established medical procedures and technologies, providing permanent recognition and facilitating broader adoption, coverage, and reimbursement by healthcare systems.
Cleerly’s AI-QCT Technology: Revolutionizing Cardiac Care
Cleerly’s AI-QCT technology, Cleerly Labs, offers a comprehensive, standardized, and reproducible assessment of coronary artery disease (CAD) based on a noninvasive Cardiac Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA) scan. This AI-powered analysis has been shown to be highly accurate in assessing the presence, extent, and composition of coronary plaque.
“We are delighted that the American Medical Association has officially approved our request for a CPT Category I code for Cleerly’s AI-QCT advanced plaque analyses. Our team at Cleerly initiated this process with the AMA more than five years ago, and we could not be more thankful to the many societies and physicians that have supported us in the process. This approval shows the importance and power of AI and advanced imaging technologies in clinical practice. It’s been a very exciting time here at Cleerly—beyond the Category I CPT Code, we also saw five of seven Medicare Administrative Contractors finalize a coverage determination for Cleerly’s advanced plaque analysis. Both of these decisions will significantly expand the access of our personalized heart disease technology to Medicare beneficiaries and will encourage a paradigm shift in cardiovascular care,” said Dr. James K. Min, Founder and CEO of Cleerly.
