If your Rural Health Clinic provides obstetrical care, an important coding change is on the horizon.
Beginning January 1, 2027, the American Medical Association (AMA) is deleting the long-standing global maternity care CPT codes that bundle antepartum care, labor and delivery, and postpartum care into a single code. Instead, providers will report separate CPT codes for the services they perform.
This represents one of the most significant maternity coding updates in years and will impact how routine obstetrical services are reported.
What’s Changing?
For dates of service on and after January 1, 2027, providers will no longer report familiar global maternity care codes, including:
- 59400 Routine obstetric care including antepartum care, vaginal delivery, and postpartum care
- 59510 Routine obstetric care including antepartum care, cesarean delivery, and postpartum care
- 59610, 59618, 59620, and related global maternity care codes
Instead, providers will bill individual CPT codes that reflect the services actually provided throughout the pregnancy and postpartum period.
This includes reporting:
- Antepartum care services
- Labor and delivery services
- Postpartum care services
- Appropriate Evaluation and Management (E/M) codes for routine antepartum and postpartum visits, when applicable
The intent of this change is to improve coding accuracy by reporting the specific services furnished rather than a bundled global package.
What About Services Through December 31, 2026?
Nothing changes this year.
The AMA clarified during its June 2026 educational webinar that providers should continue following current CPT coding guidance through December 31, 2026.
That means routine maternity care furnished through the end of 2026 should continue to be billed using the existing global maternity care CPT codes, when appropriate.
The new coding structure applies only to dates of service beginning January 1, 2027.
How Should Clinics Prepare?
Although implementation doesn’t begin until January 2027, now is a great time to start preparing.
Consider reviewing:
- Billing workflows for obstetrical services
- EHR templates and charge masters
- Coding resources and documentation processes
- Staff education for providers, coders, and billing teams
Preparing ahead of time can help reduce coding errors, claim delays, and reimbursement challenges once the new requirements take effect.
HSA Is Here to Help
Healthcare regulations and coding requirements continue to evolve, and staying current is essential for Rural Health Clinics.
At HSA, we monitor changes like these throughout the year so your clinic doesn’t have to navigate them alone. As additional guidance is released, we’ll continue providing practical updates to help your team prepare with confidence.
Stay Informed
The transition away from global maternity care CPT codes is a significant change for providers who deliver obstetrical services. While current billing practices remain in place through December 31, 2026, preparing now can help your clinic avoid confusion when the new reporting requirements take effect.
For the latest information and official guidance, visit:
American Medical Association (AMA)
CPT coding information and updates
HSA will continue monitoring this change and provide updates as additional guidance becomes available, helping Rural Health Clinics stay informed, prepared, and compliant.
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