Effective Jan. 1, 2027, Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) codes for maternity care services will reflect the realities of contemporary, team-based obstetric care. Significant revisions to this section of the code set will allow obstetric practice to be reported more granularly at the service level, separately identifying four phases of care: antepartum, labor management, delivery and postpartum.
Review the frequently asked questions on this page for answers about the rationale behind revising the maternity care services codes, what is changing, and what to look out for.
- Overview of maternity care services code changes
What is changing in the CPT® code set for maternity care starting Jan. 1, 2027?
The CPT Editorial Panel approved the restructuring of CPT codes for maternity care services to reflect modern, team-based obstetric care, improve transparency, data quality and measurement, and support evidence-based labor and postpartum care. These updates will be effective Jan. 1, 2027. The traditional global maternity codes will be deleted and replaced with phase-specific reporting: antepartum care via evaluation and management (E/M) services, new labor management codes (initial/subsequent; straightforward/complex), new delivery care codes (vaginal and cesarean), and postpartum care via E/M services. This enables more accurate, transparent data across pregnancy.
Why were the global maternity codes deleted?
Global codes no longer reflect contemporary team-based obstetric care, growing complexity and varied care patterns (e.g., telehealth, consultations). Restructuring these codes improves transparency, data quality measurement, and alignment with evidence-based labor and postpartum care.
How many codes were changed?
35 total codes were changed, including 17 deleted codes, 12 new codes and 6 revised codes.
Where can I view the CPT 2027 codes and guidelines for maternity care services?
Download the list of new, revised and deleted CPT 2027 codes and guidelines for maternity care services (PDF). The AMA has published the codes and guidelines early to assist CPT users in preparing for the significant revisions to this section of the CPT code set. Since minor refinements may occur during copyediting, users should consult the AMA’s CPT® 2027 Professional Edition codebook, when available, for final language.
When will payment values be finalized and implemented?
The AMA/Specialty Society RVS Update Committee (RUC) recommendations were submitted to the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in February 2026 and are available for download (PDF). CMS will review these recommendations, as well as other data, and propose the relative values for these services in July 2026 with their proposed rule followed by a 60-day comment period. The final values will be published in early November 2026 and implemented Jan. 1, 2027.
Note: Using the Center for Disease Control (CDC) information and payer data, the RUC analyzed its work RVU recommendations and affirmed that, if adopted by CMS, the RVUs for the coding changes are anticipated to be budget neutral.
- Antepartum care (Prenatal)
How is antepartum care reported under the new structure?
Antepartum care will be reported per encounter with the appropriate E/M service based on location of the patient, such as office, hospital or telehealth. Standard E/M rules apply, using Medical Decision Making (MDM) or time.
Note: For care provided by a nonphysician qualified healthcare professional (QHP) who may not report E/M services, refer to the specific service (examples: genetic counseling or medical nutrition therapy). Antepartum and fetal invasive services procedural codes remain, and some services were relocated there.
How can payers identify pregnancy-related encounters in claims?
Use ICD-10-CM pregnancy codes (e.g., Z34- or O chapter codes) and consider HCPCS modifier TH (Obstetrical treatment/services, prenatal or postpartum) where applicable to designate maternity-related services.
Will antepartum visit intensity vary across patients?
In 2027, antepartum visits will be reported individually, using E/M codes; and E/M reporting rules will apply. As with other E/M services, the specific code reported for a given encounter will be based on either total time on the date of the encounter, or MDM; and each encounter will be evaluated for code selection based on the service provided in that particular encounter. The 2027 revisions do not assign a fixed level of complexity to a given patient across all of their antepartum encounters.
- Labor management
What new labor management codes are available Jan. 1, 2027?
Four new codes will be available:
- 59080 – Initial day labor management; straightforward, per day
- 59081 – Initial day labor management; complex, per day
- 59082 – Subsequent day labor management; straightforward, per day
- 59083 – Subsequent day labor management; complex, per day
Labor management will include interim physical examinations, collection and interpretation of physiological data and induction/augmentation of labor.
Note: Planned or scheduled cesarean would not have a labor management code associated with the service.
What distinguishes straightforward from complex labor management?
Straightforward management requires that all of these criteria are met: singleton vertex presentation; routine maternal/fetal monitoring; fetal monitoring (e.g., heart rate) not requiring physician or other QHP intervention, normal progression or routine induction/augmentation; stable medical conditions not requiring additional management during labor; and no prior cesarean. Any deviation (e.g., multiples, non-vertex, deteriorating conditions, prior cesarean) elevates labor management to complex.
How do initial day vs. subsequent day labor management codes apply?
Initial day is the first calendar date during the facility admission when labor management starts. Subsequent day management applies to all calendar dates after the initial date of continued labor management. If care transfers to a different specialty/group for medical necessity, the receiving clinician may report initial day labor management.
Can labor management be reported with other E/M services?
Once labor management begins, hospital E/M services by the same clinician stop for that day. An office/outpatient E/M earlier the same day may be reported if the patient was admitted later that same day for labor management.
- Delivery care
How is vaginal delivery reported in 2027?
Two new codes:
- 59431 – Vaginal delivery, with or without episiotomy
- 59432 – Vaginal delivery, with or without episiotomy; after previous cesarean delivery
These include delivery of the placenta and repair of first- or second-degree lacerations done by the delivering physician or other QHP or their group, plus routine same-day postpartum care.
How is cesarean delivery reported in 2027?
Two new codes:
- 59502 – Cesarean delivery; primary
- 59503 – Cesarean delivery; repeat
Each includes incision, delivery, placenta and closure. Typically reported once per delivery event regardless of number of fetuses. Labor management may be separately reported when applicable (e.g., failed labor before primary cesarean, TOLAC before repeat cesarean).
How are perineal laceration or episiotomy repairs handled?
First-or second-degree lacerations or episiotomy repairs are not separately reported by the delivery physician or other QHP as that work is included in the vaginal delivery code being reported.
If performed by an unrelated clinician, code 59300 may be reported for first-or second-degree repair.
- 59300 – Repair of first or second-degree episiotomy or laceration, by other than attending physician or other qualified health care professional performing vaginal delivery care (separate procedure)
Third-and fourth-degree lacerations or episiotomy repairs are separately reportable procedure codes regardless of who is reporting the delivery.
- 59433 – Repair of episiotomy or laceration; third-degree laceration
- 59434 – Repair of episiotomy or laceration; fourth-degree laceration
How are multiple gestations coded?
Labor management: report one complex labor management code per calendar date regardless of number of fetuses. Labor is complex by default for multiples.
Delivery: Report one cesarean code regardless of number of fetuses delivered by cesarean; report one vaginal delivery code per fetus delivered vaginally. For mixed-mode deliveries (e.g., one vaginal, two cesarean), report one vaginal delivery code and one cesarean code.
How are cesarean hysterectomies reported?
Subtotal or total hysterectomy performed at the same encounter as a cesarean is separately reportable with a new code, 59504, and may be billed by the same or a different physician than the one reporting the cesarean.
- Postpartum care
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.
- Claims, editing and payer readiness
What should health plans do to prepare for 2027?
Begin now. Review contracts and fee schedules that reference deleted global codes; update claims systems and edits; coordinate with vendors; plan for transition scenarios; and align with state-specific requirements (e.g., Medicaid tracking rules). Expect more granular, real-time claims data across prenatal, labor, delivery and postpartum.
How will claims editing handle common and uncommon code combinations?
As with any other CPT code guidelines and instructions, it is expected that a claims editing process will review the revised guidelines to determine if there are pairs of codes that are appropriate to be reported together (e.g., a labor management code and a vaginal delivery on the same date of service); as well as those that should not be reported together and would likely be denied (e.g., reporting both a straightforward and complex labor management code by the same physician for the same date of service); as well as combinations that may be more unusual, but could be valid in specific circumstances (e.g., a labor management code present on the claim for patient who is attempting a vaginal birth after a previous cesarean, and labors to this goal, but ultimately has a repeat cesarean delivery).
How does the change support care management and public health?
Phase-specific reporting provides earlier visibility into specific care provided, facilitates early detection of pregnancy risks via frequent E/M claims and ICD-10 diagnoses (e.g., medical complexity, social determinants), and highlights key information to identify beneficial interventions, including timely outreach and care management, as well as improved tracking of maternal and infant outcomes.
Will deleted global codes be accepted in 2027 claims?
No. Deleted CPT codes are invalid for dates of service on or after Jan. 1, 2027. Claims systems and clearing houses should reject them. Services must be reported using the new phase-specific codes and E/M services.
What can organizations do to help support appropriate use of the new codes going forward?
There will be an ongoing need to monitor utilization patterns across phases, diagnosis-driven risk indicators and claims edits aligned to coding rules. As a new normal emerges, analytics can identify outliers and irregularities more effectively than under the old global structure. Many of these activities can be achieved and enhanced through education and training on the new code guidelines, as well as proactive auditing activities and compliance programs.
