The global obstetric (OB) code should be billed whenever one practitioner or practitioners of the same group provide all components of the patient’s obstetrical care, including; 4 or more antepartum visits, delivery, and postpartum care.
From a provider’s perspective, a global billing model such as with CPT code 59400 cuts down on the number of invoices to manage and claims to file claims. With a set reimbursement rate, providers can focus on patient care.
Per CPT® guidelines, the global OB package includes “uncomplicated care” to the patient in the antepartum period, the delivery, and through the postpartum period. Let’s begin by examining the antepartum period, delivery, and postpartum period separately.
UnitedHealthcare reimburses for these global OB codes when all of the antepartum, delivery and postpartum care is provided by the Same Group Physician and/or Other Health Care Professional. UnitedHealthcare will adjudicate claims submitted with either a single date of service or a date span when submitting global OB codes.
Global OB claims (CPT codes 59400, 59510, 59610 and 59618) must be billed in the “from-through” billing format (called “from-to” on the CMS-1500) with modifier AG (primary surgeon).
Broadly speaking, the global OB package covers routine maternity services, dividing the pregnancy into three stages: antepartum (also known as prenatal) care, delivery services, and postpartum care.
Global maternity care includes pregnancy-related antepartum care, admission to labor and delivery, management of labor including fetal monitoring, delivery, and uncomplicated postpartum care until six weeks postpartum.
The 0500F code is used for intital prenatal care visit with the provider. The 0501F is the prenatal flow sheet documented, which I do not use .
CPT code 59510 – Routine obstetric care including antepartum care, cesarean delivery, and postpartum care . CPT code 59610 – Routine obstetric care including antepartum care, vaginal delivery (with or without episiotomy, and/or forceps) and postpartum care, after previous cesarean delivery .
Our patients come in either for a first visit - usually prior to 8 weeks for a confirmatory visit. These are usually billed at a 99202 or 99212-99213, (depending on what the doctor did), along with the pregnancy test and then are given an appointment for their first PNV which begins the global period.
You can only bill 59430 once during the post partum period, assuming that the global was not billed for the delivery.
Vaginal deliverythe Global CPT codes of 59400 (Vaginal delivery) or 59510 (Cesarean delivery). Terminology (CPT®) manual. Maternity Care and Delivery is a subsection of the Surgery section.
CPT® Code 59410 in section: Vaginal delivery only (with or without episiotomy and/or forceps)
Use CPT Category II code 0500F (Initial prenatal care visit) or 0501F (Prenatal flow sheet documented in medical record by first prenatal visit). Date of postpartum visit – The postpartum visit should occur 4-6 weeks after delivery.
Use the CPT® Category II code 0503F, defined as postpartum care visit; this code will help with HEDIS data collection and offers providers a $20 incentive payment. Procedure code 0503F can be billed alone or with other qualifying CPT codes.
The global obstetric package includes approximately 13 antepartum visits and traditionally extends to 6 weeks following delivery. The global obstetrical package procedure code includes antepartum, delivery and postpartum care.
One of the more challenging aspects of coding and auditing for OB/GYN providers revolves around the global obstetrical package, which bundles all services relating to pregnancy and delivery into a single global code, depending on the manner of delivery.
The global package covers an uncomplicated delivery, so any significant complications of labor and delivery are separately billable if supported by ...
For billing purposes, the obstetric (OB) period begins on the date of the initial visit in which pregnancy was confirmed and extends through the end of the postpartum period (56 days after vaginal delivery and 90 days after C-section).
The global obstetric (OB) code should be billed whenever one practitioner or practitioners of the same group provide all components of the patient’s obstetrical care, including; 4 or more antepartum visits, delivery, and postpartum care. The number of antepartum visits may vary from patient to patient, however, if global OB care (more than 3 antepartum visits, delivery, and postpartum care) is provided, ALL pregnancy-related visits (excluding inpatient hospital visits for complications of pregnancy) should be billed under the global OB code. Individual E/M codes should NOT be billed to report pregnancy-related E/M visits.
Services rendered during the global period of another service are often overlooked. ‘Typical’ prenatal and postpartum visits are a part of the global delivery package. Problems not related to pregnancy, such as yeast infections, vaginitis, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), are not part of the global delivery package. Problems not related to pregnancy may be billed separately at the time of service or treatment.