The American Medical Association (AMA) updated maternity care coding Thursday, in what it says is the “most significant” move in decades to improve care delivery and data to advance maternal health.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2027 (PDF), current procedural terminology (CPT) codes will reflect modern obstetric care, enable accurate and transparent reporting across the full pregnancy spectrum and create a data foundation for improved care throughout the entire patient journey.
The update featured the deletion of 17 codes, creation of six codes and revision of six codes. It also includes new subsections, revised guidelines and relocation for some existing codes.
Moreover, new CPT codes (PDF) will separately identify four phases of care: antepartum, labor management, delivery and postpartum.
The updates are the result of nearly two years of collaboration from leading groups, and are supported by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Academy of Family Physicians.
There is no expected impact on health plan benefits or an increase in cost-sharing, according to an AMA analysis using data from more than 650 physicians and certified nursing midwives.
"Physicians cannot improve what they cannot measure,” said Willie Underwood III, M.D., AMA president, in a statement. “These CPT revisions give physicians, researchers, and policymakers a clearer understanding of the care mothers receive throughout pregnancy and after delivery, helping identify opportunities to improve quality, strengthen accountability, and improve outcomes for mothers and babies."