With SimplePractice, you have access to Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) codes, which are developed and maintained by the American Medical Association (AMA). Because the AMA charges a royalty for access to these codes, SimplePractice applies an annual AMA fee.
This guide explains the AMA fee, who it applies to, and how and when it’s billed. We'll answer the following questions:
About the AMA fee
- Why am I being charged an AMA fee?
- Can I opt out of the AMA fee?
- Do other EHRs charge royalties for CPT code access?
- Are the codes I'm paying for available in SimplePractice?
Billing and timing
- When will I be charged the AMA fee?
- Who will be charged the AMA fee?
- How is the fee calculated for a group practice?
- Will I be charged sales tax for the AMA fee?
CPT code use
- Does my practice have to use CPT codes for insurance?
- If my practice doesn’t bill insurance, will I still be charged?
- Can I pay the AMA directly?
- My practice uses CPT codes with other billing tools besides SimplePractice. Will I be charged by each billing tool I use?
- If a clinician sees only a few clients or submits only a few claims, will I still be charged the full annual fee?
Note: On September 22, 2026, we notified customers that the annual AMA fee for CPT® code access will appear on their November invoice.
Why am I being charged an AMA fee?
Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes are developed and maintained by the American Medical Association (AMA), which owns the rights to these codes. The AMA charges a royalty for each clinician with access to CPT codes, regardless of usage.
Because CPT codes are available to clinicians through SimplePractice, the AMA charges SimplePractice a royalty for each clinician that uses our platform.
To provide continued access to these codes, SimplePractice charges an annual fee of $20 per clinician. This fee includes an $18.50 CPT royalty charged by the AMA and a $1.50 processing fee.
For more information about CPT licensing and royalties, see the AMA’s Standard CPT Distribution Pricing Schedule 2026.
Can I opt out of the AMA fee?
No. The AMA charges SimplePractice a royalty for each clinician with access to CPT codes, regardless of whether the clinician actively uses them. Because CPT code access is included in SimplePractice, it isn't possible to opt out of the annual AMA fee.
Do other EHRs charge royalties for CPT code access?
We can't speak to how other EHRs handle CPT code royalties or related charges. For information about CPT licensing costs, see the AMA’s Standard CPT Distribution Pricing Schedule 2026.
Are the codes I'm paying for available in SimplePractice?
Yes. CPT codes are automatically available in SimplePractice.
To learn more about using CPT codes, see Creating and using service codes.
When will I be charged the AMA fee?
The annual AMA fee for 2026 will appear on your November invoice and be charged on your regular November invoicing date.
Who will be charged the AMA fee?
The annual AMA fee applies to every paid SimplePractice clinician. For group practices, the fee is charged per clinician, not per practice.
Team members assigned only a practice manager, practice biller, practice scheduler, or supervisor role aren’t charged. Interns are charged only if they’re assigned a clinician role.
How is the fee calculated for a group practice?
For group practices, the AMA fee is calculated at $20 for each paid clinician.
Will I be charged sales tax for the AMA fee?
Sales tax may apply based on the billing address on your SimplePractice account and local tax requirements.
Does my practice have to use CPT codes for insurance?
CPT codes are the standard service codes used when submitting insurance claims. Because requirements vary by insurance payer, contact the payer directly with questions about which codes to use.
If my practice doesn’t bill insurance, will I still be charged?
Yes. All clinicians using SimplePractice are charged the AMA fee, regardless of whether they do insurance billing or are located in the United States or Canada. This reflects how the AMA charges SimplePractice.
CPT codes are available throughout the platform and support out-of-network billing, coding accuracy, and clinical documentation.
Can I pay the AMA directly?
While you can purchase a CPT license directly from the AMA, that license won’t cover access to CPT codes within SimplePractice or replace the annual AMA fee. The CPT royalty charged to SimplePractice covers access to the codes through our platform.
My practice uses CPT codes with other billing tools besides SimplePractice. Will I be charged by each billing tool I use?
We can't speak to how other billing tools handle CPT royalties or related charges. Within SimplePractice, the annual AMA fee applies to each paid clinician.
If a clinician sees only a few clients or submits only a few claims, will I still be charged the full annual fee?
Yes. The AMA royalty is based on a clinician’s access to CPT codes, not the number of clients they see or claims they submit.