2027 CPT Changes: Global Maternity Codes Are Gone, Here's the Billing Guide

What is CPT. what is changing in the 2027 code set?

CPT stands for Current Procedural Terminology. The AMA updates the list every single year, so those of us in billing never really get to stand still.

The 2027 update adds up to 453 changes in total, made up of 299 new codes, 74 revisions and 80 deletions. One thing to keep straight: the new codes apply only to services on or after January 1, 2027. A service performed in 2026 still gets billed with the 2026 codes, even if you don’t send the claim until the new year.

A code set this big can feel hard to follow. Let us turn our attention to the two areas important to many practices: maternity billing and AI‑related services.

What changes will occur for maternity billing as of January 1 2027?

For many years, OB practices have billed pregnancy care with one global code. If you’ve ever wondered how an insurer knows what a doctor actually did, it happens through these five-digit codes. The AMA explains that this single code stands for about nine months of care. That makes billing simple, but it hides how much care can differ from one patient to the next.

Beginning January 1, 2027, care will be reported in four separate phases: antepartum (care before birth), labor management, delivery and postpartum (care after birth). Altogether, 17 codes are deleted, 12 are added, and 6 are revised. Familiar global codes like 59400, 59510, 59610 and 59618 are among the deleted ones, and you can’t use a deleted code for any service on or after January 1, 2027.

Which global OB codes are deleted?

The AMA is deleting 17 maternity codes for 2027. Four codes represent the global packages: 59400 for vaginal delivery, 59510 for cesarean, 59610 for vaginal birth after cesarean also called VBAC and 59618 for cesarean following an attempted VBAC. The other 13 are delivery-only, antepartum-only, postpartum-only and related codes that go away with them. The AMA also adds 12 new codes and revises 6. You can see the official lists on the AMA’s maternity care services page.

How will each phase of maternity care be billed?

Here is how each phase will work:

FREE DOWNLOAD: CPT 2027 Deleted Maternity Codes Checklist

Get all 17 deleted OB codes in one easy Word checklist, with a short description of each, the 12 new and 6 revised codes, and a quick action list to finish before January 1. Enter your email and phone number to download it.

DOWNLOAD FREE CHECKLIST

Why did the AMA change maternity care coding?

The AMA says pregnancy care has changed a lot in the past 30 years. Care now often comes from several teams, and those teams are sometimes not connected to each other. Patients may also be moved from a small rural hospital to a larger one that can handle higher-risk births. Prenatal care is now more personal too. These days it might mean visits or a schedule built around the patient rather than sticking to the old standard of 13 visits.

The new codes are meant to show this real-world care. They also give better data for quality checks and tracking results. The CPT Editorial Panel approved the new structure in September 2025, after nearly two years of work with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and other medical societies.

Will Medicare still pay global maternity codes?

A CPT code describes a service. It does not set the price. For Medicare, the price comes from the physician fee schedule.

The old CPT global codes are deleted for 2027 services, so they can’t be billed to anyone, Medicare included. What Medicare will do instead is still open. In its CY 2027 Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule, released on July 14, 2026, CMS proposed values for the new maternity codes. CMS also asked for comments on creating 15 new G-codes. G-codes are codes Medicare creates for its own use, and these ones would keep a global-style payment option for Medicare. The AMA has urged CMS not to keep the global structure this way, because it would add confusion.

The AMA says CMS is expected to release the Final Rule in early November, with the new payments starting January 1, 2027. Until then, these values and the G-code idea are still proposals These updates are included in the CMS 2027 Physician Fee Schedule , which explains the proposed changes to Medicare payments for doctors.

Private payers set their own rules, so keep an eye on their bulletins and go back through your contracts too. ACOG suggests that health plans start moving away from global payment now. It also asks for plans to pay for E/M visits without limits or prior authorization requirements.

What is new with AI-related CPT, codes in 2027?

The 2027 code set adds 10 new codes for AI-related services. That brings the total number of AI-related CPT codes to 43. The AMA’s CPT Editorial Panel also updated its guide for choosing the right words in AI code descriptions.

What does this mean for your billing team? Three simple things:

• A code does not guarantee payment. In the end every payer decides for itself what it will cover and pay for.
• Before you pick an AI-related code, read its description carefully. Make sure it really matches what was actually done.
• Write down clearly what the AI tool handled and what the provider did themselves.

AI is also changing how billing teams work behind the scenes. making the role of AI and automation in your RCM process an important part of the future of medical billing.

Compliance mistakes to avoid

When this many codes change, mistakes are easy to make. These are the spots we’d watch closely:

• Old codes on new dates: Once a global code is deleted it’s no good for 2027 services, and a Claims submitted with outdated codes may be rejected, making proper code updates an important part of reducing claim denials.
• E/M levels: Since these visits fall under E/M codes now, you’ll need to follow the E/M guidelines. In practice that means your documentation has to match the level you bill.
• Same-day services: If same-day services are a thing in your practice, take a little time now to go over the coding and documentation requirements before the change.
• Labor management: These codes are reported once per calendar date. You only report the initial-day code once for a facility admission. The exception is when a different provider steps in.
• Same-day postpartum care: Postpartum care on the day of delivery is part of the delivery code already, which means you shouldn’t bill it again on top. It’s easy to bill it without noticing, so keep an eye out.
• Assuming every payer moves together: Medicare, Medicaid and private plans can each set their own timing and rules. Check each payers bulletin before you submit the bill.
• Out-of-date systems: Before you begin using the codes someone on your team should open the EHR, charge master and billing system and confirm the 2027 codes are updated correctly. keeping your code books updated is a step, in maintaining accurate medical billing.

What should your practice do before January 1?

1. First, get the AMA’s list of new, revised and deleted maternity codes in front of your team.
2. Walk your coders and front desk staff through phase-based billing and show them how to pick the right E/M level.
3. Read through payer contracts and bulletins that mention global OB payment.
4. Some patients may begin their pregnancy in 2026. Give birth in 2027 so prepare a plan for them. The AMA has a page that answers questions about care that spans the transition date.
5. Watch for the CMS final rule in November.
6. Check your first claims in January. Our clean claim checklist is a good place to start.

How can your practice get ready for CPT 2027?

CPT 2027 is a big update, but starting early makes it far more manageable. Our advice: get comfortable with the new maternity structure and update your systems before January 1. Once that’s done, keep watching for the CMS final rule and for whatever your payers announce.

Need a hand getting ready? At Shoreline, our team works with practices on coding, claims and revenue cycle management services. We can also help you stay on top of denials as the new codes roll out.