⚠ 2027 CMS Transition

Global Maternity Billing Experts — We Track Every Global Period So You Don't Lose a Dollar

Q: When does the global period start?

The global maternity period generally begins after the first antepartum visit and includes all routine antepartum visits, the delivery, and one postpartum visit. The exact start depends on payer rules.

Q: Can I bill antepartum visits separately?

Yes — CPT codes 59425 (4-6 antepartum visits) and 59426 (7+ antepartum visits) allow separate billing when the physician does not complete the delivery, or when care is split between providers.

Q: How do you handle mid-pregnancy insurance changes?

Mid-pregnancy insurance changes require switching global package billing from the original payer to the new payer, often requiring retroactive claims or component billing. We track every payer transition automatically.

Q: What happens with a failed VBAC?

A failed VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) that converts to cesarean is billed with CPT 59618 (attempted VBAC, cesarean delivery) or 59620 for the cesarean only. Incorrect coding is one of the most common and costly errors in maternity billing.

From CPT 59400 through VBAC coding and the 2027 service-based billing transition, our CPC-OB certified team manages every aspect of your global maternity billing.

Free Maternity Billing Audit →Revenue Calculator

HIPAA CompliantBAA AvailableSOC 2 Type IIAAPC CPC-OBAHIMAMGMAHIMSS

98.2%

First-Pass Rate

$100–$120

Avg Recovered Per Pregnancy

200+

Practices Served

2027

Transition Ready

The #1 Source of OB Revenue Loss

Global maternity billing errors cost OB/GYN practices $100–$120 per pregnancy. Here's what goes wrong — and how we fix it.

✗Global period tracking errors

✓Automated tracking of each patient's global period start/end date across all payer rules

✗Mid-pregnancy insurance changes

✓Real-time payer change detection with same-day rebilling workflow

✗VBAC billing mistakes (CPT 59618 vs 59610)

✓Pre-submission delivery type verification against patient history

✗Antepartum underbilling (CPT 59425/59426)

✓Automated split-care tracking when delivery is at a different facility

✗Postpartum visit missed billing

✓Post-discharge follow-up reminder triggers for 59430 billing

✗2027 transition to service-based billing

✓Migration planning and coder training for component-based billing

Global Maternity CPT Code Reference

CPC-OB certified coders who know every code, every modifier, every edge case.

CPT Code	Description	Type
`59400`	Global vaginal delivery package (antepartum + delivery + postpartum)	Global Package
`59510`	Global cesarean delivery package (antepartum + C-section + postpartum)	Global Package
`59610`	Global VBAC — routine vaginal delivery after prior C-section	VBAC
`59618`	Attempted VBAC — resulting in cesarean delivery	Failed VBAC
`59430`	Postpartum care only — separate from delivery package	Postpartum
`59425`	Antepartum care only — 4–6 visits (split care)	Antepartum
`59426`	Antepartum care only — 7+ visits (split care)	Antepartum
`59409`	Vaginal delivery only — no antepartum or postpartum	Delivery Only
`59515`	Cesarean delivery only — no antepartum or postpartum	Delivery Only

Key ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Codes

O80Normal delivery, uncomplicated

O34.21Maternal care for scar from previous cesarean delivery

Z34Encounter for supervision of normal pregnancy

O60Preterm labor

O14Pre-eclampsia

O30Multiple gestation

O82Encounter for cesarean delivery without indication

Z3AWeeks of gestation (Z3A.xx — specify weeks)

⚠ 2027 Transition Alert

CMS Is Eliminating Global Maternity Packages in 2027

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is transitioning from global maternity billing to service-based (component) billing starting in 2027. This means every antepartum visit, the delivery, and postpartum care will be billed separately — fundamentally changing how OB/GYN practices capture revenue.

→ Individual E/M codes for each antepartum visit
→ Separate delivery CPT codes per episode
→ Per-service postpartum billing
→ New documentation requirements per visit
→ Payer-by-payer adoption timeline varies

Prepare for 2027 Transition →

Global Maternity Billing — Frequently Asked Questions

What is a global OB package?+

A global OB package bundles antepartum visits, the delivery, and postpartum care into a single CPT code — 59400 for vaginal delivery or 59510 for cesarean. Errors in package assignment or period tracking are the leading cause of maternity billing revenue loss.

When does the global period start?+

The global maternity period typically begins after the first antepartum visit (often after 28 weeks), following the date the physician commits to deliver the patient. The exact rules vary by payer — Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial payers each have different definitions.

Can I bill antepartum visits separately?+

Yes. CPT 59425 (4–6 antepartum visits) and 59426 (7+ antepartum visits) allow separate billing when the delivering physician does not provide the full antepartum course, such as in referral or split-care situations.

How do you handle mid-pregnancy insurance changes?+

We track every active patient's insurance in real time. When a mid-pregnancy change occurs, we immediately switch billing to the new payer, adjust the global package assignment, and retroactively bill any antepartum visits under the prior payer using component codes.

What happens with a failed VBAC billing-wise?+

A VBAC attempt that converts to cesarean is billed with CPT 59618 (attempted VBAC, cesarean). If only the cesarean is billable (antepartum done separately), use 59620. Incorrect coding between 59610, 59618, and 59620 is one of the highest-value error patterns we correct.

“

We were losing nearly $150 per delivery to global period tracking errors. OBGYNBillingPro identified the issue within the first week and recovered over $48,000 in the first 6 months.

Dr. Maria T.

OB/GYN, Solo Practice — Texas

Related Services

Denial Management →Revenue Cycle Management →Revenue Calculator →

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