Ob-Gyn Coding Alert

Abandon global ob codes and count the number of visits.

Did your ob-gyn perform antepartum care but not the delivery? If so, that means you may need to abandon global codes 59400, 59510, 59610, and 59618 (Routine obstetric care including antepartum care ...) and go for three alternative options. But one thing is certain, however: you need to count the number of visits.

Note: CPT® states that antepartum care includes monthly visits up to 28 weeks gestation, biweekly visits up to 36 weeks gestation, and weekly visits until delivery. Antepartum services include obtaining the patient's history, performing a physical exam, recording vital statistics, and doing other examinations necessary to provide safe and appropriate care for the mother and fetus.

If your ob-gyn only provides antepartum care, you have three potential ways to report his services.

Option 1: One to Three Visits Means E/M Codes

"If the patient had a total of one to three antepartum visits, report the appropriate level of E/M service for each visit with the date of service that the visit occurred and the diagnosis for why the patient was seen," states the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

Example: If the doctor sees an ob patient twice before she transfers out of the practice, you would report the appropriate E/M code (99201-99215) for each visit with V22.0 (Supervision of normal first pregnancy) or V22.1 (Supervision of other normal pregnancy).

ICD-10: When your diagnosis coding system changes in 2013, code V22.0 will expand into four options: Z34.00 (Encounter for supervision of normal first pregnancy, unspecified trimester), Z34.01 (... first trimester), Z34.02 (... second trimester), Z34.03 (... third trimester).

Code V22.1 will include Z34.80 (Encounter for supervision of other normal pregnancy, unspecified trimester), Z34.81 (... first trimester), Z34.82 (... second trimester), and Z34.83 (.. third trimester).

Option 2: Capture Four to Six Visits With 59425

On the other hand, if the ob-gyn sees the patient four to six times before she leaves his care, you will report 59425 (Antepartum care only; 4-6 visits), ACOG states. Because 59425 represents the total work involved with all of the visits, you should submit it only once with a "1" in the units box of the CMS-1500 claim form. Best bet: Be sure to include the "to" and "from" dates during which the services occurred.

Enter the date of the first prenatal visit in box 15, and only enter the date of the last visit the patient was seen for prenatal care in box 25a, experts say.

Option 3: Ask Carriers How to Report Seven+ Visits

If your physician provides seven or more antepartum visits, you should report 59426 (... 7 or more visits), according to ACOG.

As with 59425, you should report 59426 only once and place a "1" in the units box. You should also record the "to" and "from" dates for the services your ob-gyn provided.

Tip: To avoid reimbursement hassles, be sure to ask your carriers how they want multiple antepartum visits coded. Each carrier may have different requirements for reporting services--especially those services that vary from the usual--and physicians must know how to correctly report the services they provide to be in compliance, as well as receive appropriate reimbursement for their work.

Note: Some payers may allow you to bill an E/M service instead of the antepartum visit package codes. And reporting individual visits allows you to get paid at the time of service rather than waiting until you complete the required number of visits and billing the corresponding code. And some payers may allow you to bill globally with a modifier 52 (Reduced Services) attached when all the care is provided except delivery due to a home delivery, or vaginal delivery before the physician can make it to the hospital. This varies from carrier to carrier, so be sure to ask what their policy is.