🧠📈 CPT Updates Mark a Turning Point for CT Perfusion—and Set
the Stage for Neuro-AI
What changed (effective Jan 1, 2026):
CT cerebral perfusion (CTP) has moved from temporary tracking codes to permanent CPT reporting.
+70472 🧠: New Category I add-on code for CTP performed with concurrent CT or CTA of the same anatomy (paired with 70473; replaces 0042T).
70473 🔄: New Category I code for CTP performed without concurrent CT or CTA of the same anatomy.
Why it matters: More standardized reporting: Category I codes replace a temporary tracking code, reducing billing ambiguity and improving consistency across sites.
Workflow clarity: The separation of codes reflects real-world imaging scenarios—whether CTP is performed alongside CT/CTA or as a distinct study.
Broader accessibility: Permanent coding supports more uniform adoption of perfusion workflows beyond a small subset of advanced centers.
Bigger picture for neuro-AI:
While these codes reimburse the physician work and technical components of CTP—not software—they establish durable infrastructure around perfusion imaging. That stability is essential for AI tools that build on CTP outputs to integrate into routine clinical workflows.
Bottom line:
CT perfusion has officially entered the permanent CPT framework. With standardized coding in place, the foundation is set for advanced analytics—including neuro-AI—to scale more broadly across stroke care. 🚀