Maternity coding will no longer be reported as a single global obstetric package, but rather will be broken down into phases starting January 1, 2027. The AMA CPT changes remove 17 codes, add 12 codes, and update 6 codes that impact on how antepartum, labor, delivery, and postpartum services are captured. 

While practicing OBGYN medical billing services, the challenge goes beyond the learning of new CPT codes. There are templates for documentation, tracking of encounters, capture of charges, coding workflows, and claim validation that must all be changed to fit the new format. 

What Is Changing in OBGYN Coding for 2027?

The 2027 CPT update will shift maternity billing from a global-care model to reporting the individual stages of pregnancy and childbirth. Most practices will not be able to count the majority of services as part of a single global contract, but will have to document and report qualifying antepartum services, labor-management services, delivery services, and postpartum services as separate services. 

From Global Packages to Phase-Based Reporting

New codes will enable antepartum care to be reported as E/M services by the encounter and labor management to be reported with codes that will differentiate days and complexity of care. The delivery services will be reported via stand-alone codes for the type of delivery and the related process, and the postnatal care services will be reported separately if any.

This change adds more significance to each recorded encounter, enhancing the Revenue Cycle Management workflow of the practice. The EHR must be able to address the needs of an accurate tracking of services from the clinical encounter to the charge capture to the claim submission, when billing is no longer tied to a single global package. Without phase-specific documentation and encounter tracking, practices could be subject to unsupported codes, claim errors, delays in reimbursement and missed charges. 

Four New Phases of Maternity Care Reporting

Maternity care will be reported in four separate phases provided each phase has its own coding logic instead of one global code: 

Antepartum Care

Prenatal visits are shifted to codes for E/M services, instead of antepartum-only codes like 59425 and 59426. The standard E/M coding guidelines will apply and practices will add ICD-10 codes when applicable and modifier TH. 

Labor Management

For the first time in CPT, a brand new code category for labor management on a daily basis. New codes are in the range 59080-59083 to identify whether the day was the first day or subsequent days, and whether the cases were simple or complex. 

Delivery

Delivery is actually a stand-alone, separately billable event. Vaginal delivery, VBAC, primary cesarean delivery, repeat cesarean delivery, and related repairs are included under a new set of codes: 59431-59434 and 59502-59504. 

Postpartum Care

The care for a routine postpartum care is included in the delivery code and is provided same day. All services provided relating to postpartum care after the initial period are coded at the same level as E/M codes, and a new code has been created for the specific care of the uterus for uterine tamponade, 59623. 

Why the Change Matters for EHR Workflows

The change isn’t just limited to the CPT code library. Practices should be able to recognize each and every billable encounter, maintain the proper date-of-service rules, gather the necessary supporting documentation, and charge the appropriate amount from the clinical record to the claim.

This is why OBGYN EHR Software is crucial for 2027 readiness. The system must accommodate the changes to code structure at the point of care, and not force providers and billing personnel to piece together what is needed after the encounter. 

The Role of OBGYN EHR Software in 2027 Readiness

Specialty OBGYN EHR vendors are already adjusting their templates, coding logic and billing components to prevent disruption of revenue due to documentation delays, undercoding and denied codes for deleted codes. The following is a picture of what a strong 2027 readiness may look like within an EHR. 

Updated Documentation Templates and Workflows

New prenatal/postpartum templates and redesigned OB encounter types ensure that the medical decision-making, time, history, exam findings, diagnoses, and complexity required to support individual E/M levels and codes for labor and delivery are recorded. This is a change from the previous thought of a single note for the whole pregnancy. 

Real-Time Coding Suggestions and Automation

AI and rule-based coding engines recommend ICD-10, CPT codes (including the new labor and delivery codes) and modifiers as you type the documentation. These tools identify missing components, bundling problems, and unmatched code before a claim even exits the system. 

Charge Capture and Encounter-Level Billing

Since the care is no longer being billed as a single visit, EHRs must be able to facilitate the separate, encounter-level billings for antepartum and postpartum visits. Modules for labor management, charge capture and RCM capture days, identify cross-year patients and ensure that high dollar procedures and repairs are never lost. 

Code Library Updates and Claim Scrubbing

A 2027-ready EHR automatically updates the EHR to include new CPT codes, and to remove old codes as of the date of service. Integration of Clearinghouse and claim-scrubber then prevents accidental submission of invalid and deleted codes after January 1, 2027. 

AI Documentation and Ambient Scribes

Structured notes created by ambient listening technology and AI scribes, directly connected to the four new care phases, allow for a more streamlined documentation process as the transition moves from a single bundled note to phase-specific reporting. 

Analytics, Worklists, and Compliance Tools

The built-in analytics are able to identify patients between the years of 2026 and 2027 who are transitioning, review documentation completeness and track denial trends by phase and payer. Aside from the coding system, some platforms also feature clinical decision support that matches the coding system and enables compliance and audit readiness. 

Practical Steps OB-GYN Practices Should Take in 2026

Readiness for CPT 2027 is not something that happens automatically on January 1. Practices should be acting now:

• Confirm your EHR vendor’s 2027 update timeline and test the new templates and codes before go-live.
• Audit current documentation for gaps in E/M-level support, especially around antepartum and postpartum visits.
• Build dedicated worklists to identify and track cross-year pregnancies.
• Update charge capture workflows and train providers and staff on phase-specific documentation and the new code set.
• Coordinate early with payers and clearinghouses, and model the cash-flow impact of more frequent, encounter-level claims versus one global payment.

Choosing the Right OBGYN Billing and RCM Partner

Technically prepared for CPT 2027 is half the story when it comes to an EHR. The other half is a billing and revenue cycle partner who knows how the new phases relate to clean claims. Combining specialty OB-GYN coding knowledge with proactive RCM, CureCloudMD helps practices avoid global package “ghosts” and documentation shortfalls.

Our OB/GYN billing services team collaborates with practices to ensure antepartum, labor, delivery and postpartum documentation is captured with the appropriate 2027 codes, and our comprehensive revenue cycle management services ensure charge capture, claim scrubbing and denial follow up are in sync with each payer’s transition schedule. 

Frequently Asked Questions

When do the CPT 2027 maternity coding changes take effect?

The new code set applies to dates of service on or after January 1, 2027. Care provided before that date continues to follow current global and component coding rules.

Will the global obstetric codes still be usable after 2027?

No. Codes such as 59400, 59510, 59610, and 59618 are deleted effective January 1, 2027, and claims using them for that date range will be rejected. Practices must transition to the phase-specific codes before then.

How should practices handle a pregnancy that spans 2026 and 2027?

Visits that occur in 2026 are billed under 2026 rules, while care delivered on or after January 1, 2027 follows the new phase-based structure. This makes it important to flag cross-year pregnancies early so documentation and billing stay aligned with the correct rules for each date of service.

Where can practices find official guidance on the new codes?

The AMA’s CPT 2027 maternity care resource page and ACOG’s payment for obstetric services guidance are the two authoritative sources practices should monitor as final RVUs and payer policies are published.