Beginning January 1, 2027, the way OB/GYN practices bill for maternity care will fundamentally change. The longstanding global obstetric (OB) billing model will transition to a service-based reimbursement framework, requiring providers to document, code, and bill each component of maternity care separately.
For obstetric practices, this change affects far more than CPT codes. It will require updates to clinical documentation, provider workflows, electronic health records (EHRs), billing systems, staff education, and revenue cycle management.
Practices that begin preparing now will be better positioned to avoid claim denials, reimbursement delays, workflow disruptions, and lost revenue when the new reimbursement model takes effect.
Beginning January 1, 2027, global OB billing transitions to a service-based model—requiring separate documentation and coding for every stage of maternity care.
What Is Changing in OB Billing on January 1, 2027?
For decades, most routine maternity care has been billed using a global OB package, which combines prenatal care, labor and delivery, and postpartum care into a single global CPT code.
Rather than billing each prenatal visit individually, providers typically submitted one code representing the patient’s entire maternity episode.
Beginning January 1, 2027, that model will largely be replaced.
Instead of submitting one bundled claim, providers will generally report each service they perform throughout pregnancy and childbirth. Routine prenatal visits will typically be billed using standard Evaluation and Management (E/M) CPT codes, while labor management, delivery, postpartum care, and other pregnancy-specific services will each have their own reporting requirements.
In practical terms, reimbursement will increasingly reflect the individual services provided instead of one bundled payment submitted after delivery.
Why Is the Global OB Billing Model Changing?
The traditional global maternity package was developed when a single physician often managed nearly every aspect of a patient’s pregnancy. Modern obstetric care is much different.
Today’s patients frequently receive care from multiple providers, including:
- General OB/GYN physicians
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) specialists
- Obstetric hospitalists
- Nurse practitioners and physician assistants
- Telehealth providers
- Other consulting specialists
Care has also become increasingly personalized, with remote monitoring, individualized prenatal schedules, high-risk pregnancy management, and multidisciplinary collaboration becoming standard practice.
The traditional bundled payment system often makes it difficult to:
- Accurately attribute services among multiple providers
- Recognize varying levels of clinical complexity
- Reimburse clinicians fairly when care is shared
- Capture meaningful data regarding maternal outcomes and resource utilization
By shifting toward service-based reimbursement, the revised CPT framework better reflects how obstetric care is actually delivered today while creating more detailed clinical and financial data that may improve quality measurement, care coordination, and reimbursement accuracy over time.
Global OB Billing vs. Service-Based Reimbursement
Overview of the OB/GYN billing transition taking effect January 1, 2027.
View Detailed Side-by-Side Billing Comparison
| Before January 1, 2027 (Global OB Model) | Beginning January 1, 2027 (Service-Based Model) |
|---|---|
| One global maternity CPT code covers most routine care. | Individual maternity services are generally billed separately. |
| Prenatal visits are included in the global package. | Prenatal visits are generally billed using E/M office visit codes. |
| Delivery is included within the global package. | Delivery is billed separately using appropriate procedure codes. |
| Postpartum care is included in the global package. | Postpartum services are reported separately. |
| Shared care can be difficult to allocate between providers. | Services are attributed directly to the clinician who performs them. |
How Should OB/GYN Practices Prepare for the 2027 Billing Changes?
The transition affects virtually every aspect of the revenue cycle. Rather than preparing one claim after delivery, practices will need reliable processes for documenting, coding, and billing services throughout pregnancy.
1. Shift to an Encounter-Based Billing Model
Practices should begin viewing pregnancy as a series of billable encounters instead of one bundled episode of care. Each prenatal visit, delivery service, and postpartum encounter will require appropriate documentation and coding.
2. Improve E/M Documentation
Because routine prenatal visits will generally utilize Evaluation and Management (E/M) CPT codes, documentation must fully support the level of service reported. Providers should become comfortable documenting medical decision-making and other E/M requirements.
3. Clarify Responsibilities Across Care Teams
Many pregnancies now involve multiple physicians and advanced practice providers. Clearly defining who documents, codes, and bills each service can reduce confusion and improve reimbursement accuracy.
4. Update Billing Systems and EHR Workflows
Practices should evaluate and update:
- EHR templates and clinical forms
- Charge capture processes
- Practice management software
- Billing workflows and coding protocols
5. Train Providers and Billing Staff
Education should focus on E/M coding requirements, new maternity CPT reporting rules, documentation best practices, payer-specific guidance, and denial prevention strategies.
Common Challenges During the Transition
Practices that wait until implementation may encounter operational friction, including:
- Increased claim denials due to missing E/M documentation elements
- Under-coding or over-coding during the learning curve
- Delayed reimbursement and cash flow bottlenecks
- Confusion regarding shared-care billing attribution
How Our OB/GYN Medical Billing Team Can Help
Transitioning from global OB billing to service-based reimbursement requires more than updating coding manuals—it requires coordinated operational planning. Our team helps OB/GYN practices prepare through:
- Workflow Assessments: Redesigning billing processes for encounter-based reporting.
- Provider & Staff Education: Targeted training covering E/M documentation and revised maternity coding.
- System Optimization: Updating EHR templates, charge capture tools, and practice management software.
- Coding Audits & Monitoring: Identifying documentation gaps, payer edits, and reimbursement risks.
- Ongoing Support: Navigating evolving payer guidance throughout implementation.
Navigating the 2027 OB billing transition doesn’t have to disrupt your practice revenue. Explore our medical billing consulting options today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the global OB package completely disappear in 2027?
Not entirely. While the traditional global maternity package will no longer be the primary method for billing routine obstetric care, some global obstetric codes are expected to remain available in limited situations. Beginning January 1, 2027, most maternity services will instead be billed individually under the new service-based reimbursement framework. Practices should continue to monitor updated CPT guidance and payer-specific policies.
Will prenatal visits use Evaluation and Management (E/M) codes?
Yes. Routine prenatal visits will generally be reported using standard Evaluation and Management (E/M) CPT codes, making accurate documentation of medical decision-making increasingly important.
Why are these OB billing changes happening?
Modern obstetric care frequently involves multiple providers, remote monitoring, telehealth, and individualized treatment plans. The new reimbursement framework is designed to better reflect how maternity care is delivered today while improving care coordination data.
When should OB/GYN practices begin preparing?
Practices should begin reviewing workflows, documentation standards, staff education, and billing systems well before January 1, 2027. Early preparation minimizes reimbursement disruptions and keeps cash flow steady.
