- How is postpartum care reported?
- Are there new postpartum procedure codes?
- How do coverage timelines interact with postpartum coding?
- What scenario would lead a provider to include postpartum with the delivery?
- When patients come back to our office after delivery for postpartum follow up (blood pressure checks and postpartum physical), would we code those the same way as the antepartum visits with the E/M codes?
- Additional resources
How is postpartum care reported?
Routine same-day postpartum care is included in the delivery code. After the day of delivery, inpatient postpartum care is reported with subsequent hospital care E/M codes per day until discharge, then a discharge day management code. Outpatient postpartum visits are reported with the appropriate E/M codes, following usual E/M rules.
Are there new postpartum procedure codes?
Yes. 59623 is a new code for uterine tamponade (e.g., balloon, catheter, vacuum, or packing material) to manage postpartum hemorrhage, distinct from pharmacologic management. Existing codes remain for postpartum curettage (e.g., retained products) and hysterorrhaphy (repair after uterine rupture).
How do coverage timelines interact with postpartum coding?
Coding uses standard E/M services across inpatient and outpatient settings. Coverage durations (e.g., Medicaid’s 60 days postpartum in some states) are policy-specific and separate from coding rules.
What scenario would lead a provider to include postpartum with the delivery?
In terms of reporting postpartum care relative to delivery services, these guidelines will be applicable:
- Postpartum care provided on the same calendar date as a vaginal or cesarean delivery (otherwise known as 'Immediate' postpartum care), is not reported separately.
- Inpatient maternal postpartum care on a calendar date other than the delivery date, may be reported with an E/M service, such as subsequent hospital inpatient or observation care service (99231, 99232, 99233), hospital inpatient or observation discharge service (99238, 99239), or critical care service (99291, 99292).
- Outpatient postpartum care on a calendar date subsequent to delivery care, should be reported with the appropriate E/M service (e.g., office or other outpatient service [99202, 99203, 99204, 99205, 99211, 99212, 99213, 99214, 99215], telemedicine service [98000 – 98015], virtual check-in [98016], home or residence service [99341, 99342, 99344, 99345, 99347, 99348, 99349, 99350]).
When patients come back to our office after delivery for postpartum follow up (blood pressure checks and postpartum physical), would we code those the same way as the antepartum visits with the E/M codes?
Correct; Postpartum follow-up visits are reported separately using the appropriate E/M services based on what was provided and who provided the service (e.g., a nurse-only visit report 99211).
Additional resources
- Overview: CPT® 2027 Maternity Care Services code changes
- FAQs: Preparing for the CPT® 2027 Maternity Care Services code changes
- FAQs: CPT® 2027 coding for maternity care spanning transition date
- FAQs: CPT® 2027 coding for antepartum care (prenatal)
- FAQs: CPT® 2027 coding for labor management
- FAQs: CPT® 2027 coding for delivery care
