Ob-Gyn Coding Alert

You may have more options than you think. When dividing ob-gyns’ roles with split antepartum care, the key is counting the visits, coding experts say. When your obstetrician shares maternity care with a physician outside a group practice, you will have to abandon the global codes (59400, Routine obstetric care including antepartum care, vaginal delivery [with or without episiotomy, and/or forceps] and postpartum care; 59510, Routine obstetric care including antepartum care, cesarean delivery, and postpartum care; 59610, Routine obstetric care including antepartum care, vaginal delivery [with or without episiotomy, and/or forceps] and postpartum care, after previous cesarean delivery; and 59618, Routine obstetric care including antepartum care, cesarean delivery, and postpartum care, following attempted vaginal delivery after previous cesarean delivery). 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. Ob services include obtaining the patient’s [...]