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Ob-Gyn Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Ob/Prenatal Classes Likely Included in Global

Published on Tue Mar 30, 2004

Question: Our clinic is considering offering ob/prenatal education classes. Can we bill outside the global package for these classes? Or are they included in the ob global package?
 
Missouri Subscriber Answer: Many payers include pregnancy-related classes or other such educational services as part of the ob global package (for example, 59400, Routine obstetric care including antepartum care, vaginal delivery [with or without episiotomy, and/or forceps] and postpartum care) when they are provided by the ob practice caring for the patient during her pregnancy.

On the other hand, some practices have successfully negotiated a fee for the classes, such as lactation counseling and natural childbirth, among others. But this is not widely accepted.

Your best bet will be to query your payers or examine your existing contracts before billing for this service. Once you bill your carriers for this service, make sure your patients understand that this is an extra charge that they may end up paying should the insurer deny it.
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