Updated August 10, 2026. Effective January 1, 2027, the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) maternity care section will move away from the traditional global obstetric CPT package toward phase-specific reporting. OB/GYN practices should prepare their billing systems, payer workflows, and documentation now—especially for pregnancies beginning in 2026 and continuing into 2027.
Prepared by the AMS Solutions medical billing team. AMS is physician-founded, U.S.-based, and has supported medical practices since 1992.
2026 versus 2027 at a glance
| Phase | 2026 reporting | 2027 CPT structure |
|---|---|---|
| Antepartum | Global/component codes or E/M, based on visit count and payer policy | Per-encounter E/M reporting |
| Labor management | Included within current delivery/global reporting where applicable | New daily labor-management codes |
| Delivery | Current delivery/global codes | New delivery-specific codes |
| Postpartum | Current global/component structure | Same-day routine care is included in delivery; later care generally uses E/M codes |
What changes on January 1, 2027?
The American Medical Association has confirmed a significant restructuring of maternity care reporting. The revision affects 35 codes: 17 codes will be deleted, 12 will be added, and six will be revised. The traditional global maternity CPT codes are among the deletions. The AMA has published the full list of new, revised, and deleted maternity codes and notes that the final CPT 2027 Professional Edition should control final code language.
- Antepartum care: reported per encounter using the appropriate evaluation and management service under standard E/M rules.
- Labor management: new daily codes distinguish initial and subsequent days and straightforward versus complex management.
- Delivery: new codes separately describe vaginal, VBAC, primary cesarean, and repeat cesarean delivery care.
- Postpartum care: routine same-day care remains part of delivery reporting; later inpatient and outpatient services generally use the applicable E/M codes.
The change primarily concerns obstetric and maternity services. It does not replace the coding rules for every gynecological service.
Which global obstetric CPT codes are being deleted?
The deleted-code list includes the familiar global and component maternity codes 59400, 59409, 59410, 59425, 59426, 59430, 59510, 59514, 59515, 59610, 59612, 59614, 59618, 59620, and 59622, along with 59050 and 59525. Deleted CPT codes will not be valid for dates of service on or after January 1, 2027.
The 12 new codes are 59080–59083 for labor management, 59431–59434 for vaginal delivery and related repair services, 59502–59504 for cesarean delivery and hysterectomy following cesarean delivery, and 59623 for uterine tamponade. Six additional codes are revised. Practices should use the final CPT 2027 Professional Edition and each payer’s published policy before submitting claims because minor editorial refinements may occur before publication.
Why the transition affects 2026 pregnancies
A patient who begins antepartum care in 2026 may deliver after the existing global codes are deleted. Under the AMA’s CPT transition guidance, antepartum services furnished in 2026 are reported under the 2026 rules: E/M codes for fewer than four antepartum visits, 59425 for four to six visits, or 59426 for seven or more visits. Antepartum encounters furnished in 2027 are reported individually with the appropriate E/M code. The exact 2026 reporting choice depends on the number of antepartum encounters completed during 2026.
ACOG recommends that health plans transition antepartum visits to E/M reporting no later than September 1, 2026, and recommends modifier TH to identify maternity-related E/M services where applicable. This is an ACOG recommendation to health plans—not a universal payer mandate. Practices should obtain each payer’s written effective date, modifier instructions, claim examples, and fee schedule before changing billing workflows.
For planning examples based on anticipated delivery dates, review the AMA’s Antepartum Transition Reporting brief.
The payment model is not final for every payer
In the CY 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule (CMS-1848-P), CMS included proposed values for the new maternity CPT codes and requested comment on 15 alternative HCPCS G-codes that would retain a global-style reporting and payment option. As of August 10, 2026, neither the alternative G-codes nor final Medicare payment values have been adopted. The proposed-rule comment period closes September 14, 2026; final Medicare policy is expected in the CY 2027 PFS final rule later in 2026.
Commercial and Medicaid implementation will also vary. Some health plans have announced 2026 transition approaches, while others have not. A CPT effective date does not, by itself, establish every payer’s modifier, fee schedule, claim-editing, or cross-year payment policy. Practices should maintain a payer-by-payer implementation record and update it as written guidance is issued.
OB/GYN billing readiness checklist
- Identify cross-year patients. Build a worklist of pregnancies beginning in 2026 with expected delivery dates in 2027.
- Inventory payer policies. Request written transition guidance, effective dates, modifiers, diagnosis requirements, fee schedules, and claim examples.
- Update contracts and fee schedules. Flag agreements that reference deleted global codes or payment terms tied to those codes.
- Revise EHR and practice-management templates. Add new labor and delivery codes and validate encounter-level antepartum and postpartum charge capture.
- Review E/M documentation. Ensure records support medical decision making or time under the applicable E/M rules.
- Coordinate with the clearinghouse. Confirm that new codes, code combinations, and payer edits will be accepted before January.
- Update patient financial workflows. Review estimates and payment plans that assume a single global claim.
- Prepare denial monitoring. Separate transition-related rejections and denials by payer, code, modifier, and date of service.
- Model cash flow. More frequent service-level claims may change the timing of reimbursement even when total valuation is intended to be budget neutral.
For current 2026 workflows and global-package fundamentals, see the AMS OB/GYN Medical Billing Revenue Guide. Practices evaluating outsourced support can also review AMS OB/GYN medical billing services.
Common implementation risks
- Submitting a deleted CPT code for a 2027 date of service
- Using the wrong transition method for a pregnancy that spans both years
- Applying modifier TH or another payer-specific requirement inconsistently
- Missing labor-management or postpartum charges after workflow changes
- Reporting unsupported E/M levels because documentation templates were not updated
- Using one payer’s policy as the default for all plans
- Failing to update clearinghouse and claim-scrubbing edits before the effective date
How AMS supports the transition
AMS Solutions provides U.S.-based medical billing and revenue-cycle support for independent practices nationwide. An OB/GYN billing readiness review can evaluate payer-policy tracking, cross-year patient workflows, charge capture, documentation dependencies, denial monitoring, and the operational changes needed before 2027.
AMS is physician-founded and has supported medical practices since 1992. The review is operational and payer-specific; it does not guarantee reimbursement or replace the final CPT codebook, payer contracts, or legal advice.
Request a 2027 OB/GYN Billing Readiness Review
Tell us how to reach your practice and which part of the 2027 transition you are evaluating. The initial review can cover cross-year patient workflows, payer-policy tracking, E/M documentation dependencies, charge capture, claim edits, and denial monitoring. We will contact you to confirm scope. Do not submit patient information.
Authoritative resources
- AMA: CPT 2027 maternity care services changes
- AMA: Maternity care coding FAQ
- ACOG: Payment for Obstetric Services
- CMS: CY 2027 PFS Proposed Rule record (CMS-1848-P)
This article is educational and reflects information available on August 10, 2026. Practices should verify final CPT language, payer policies, contracts, and state-specific requirements before submitting claims.
