Centers for Medicare, Medicaid Services includes AMA's obstetric codes in 2027 fee schedule

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has included the American Medical Association’s (AMA) new obstetric billing codes in the final 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, according to a statement from Camille A. Clare, MD, MPH, CPE, FACOG, president, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.¹

“ACOG is deeply grateful to CMS for including AMA’s new obstetric codes in the final 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, and we look forward to ushering in a new system that will contribute to improved maternal health outcomes,” Clare said in part. “This change follows years of ACOG advocacy and will address several challenges related to the current method of billing for prenatal care services.”

In April 2026, the AMA and the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Editorial Panel approved a comprehensive restructuring of maternity care services codes, marking a departure from the long-standing global payment model, set to take effect January 1, 2027.²

The CPT code set will transition to a granular framework that replaces the traditional bundled payment model with codes that accurately represent 4 distinct phases of care:

• Antepartum
• Labor management
• Delivery
• Postpartum

This transition follows nearly 2 years of collaborative efforts between the AMA, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and various national medical specialty societies. By moving away from the legacy global model, which historically reported maternity care as a single service, the new structure is designed to reflect the realities of modern, team-based obstetric practice, a change that ACOG is welcoming.

CMS’ proposed G-codes not included for 2027

“Thanks in part to the advocacy and engagement of ACOG members, the G-codes proposed over the summer were not included in the final fee schedule,” Clare said, referencing the July proposal from CMS that would preserve the existing global payment structure for maternity services. At the time, ACOG warned the move could create a dual billing system that increases administrative burden and worsens obstetric care disparities.^1,3

Why are updated codes important for obstetrics?

According to Clare, the adaptation of the granular plan will allow for more individualized care.¹

“This new system represents an important step forward for patients and ob-gyns alike, replacing a one-size-fits-all bundled payment approach with a coding framework that more accurately reflects and supports the individualized care that is the hallmark of ob-gyn practice,” she stated. “Patients will have more insight into the cost of maternity care, including a clear view of which prenatal and postpartum visits are exempt from copays. The new codes will also allow physicians and researchers to access more data on quality of care and maternal health outcomes, ultimately supporting the sustainability of ob-gyn practices.”

“Some patients require a lot more care, more frequent visits, and a lot more intense care for the visit they’re in because of their high risk. In the past, we got compensated the same way,” said Eduardo Lara-Torre, MD, FACOG, pediatric gynecologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, in a previous discussion with Contemporary OB/GYN.⁴

Lara-Torre characterized this shift as a victory for fair compensation, noting that the new structure allows physicians to bill for the specific work performed at each encounter.

“We're going to be billing every visit like they were coming in for traditional care, for a clinical visit, and then the delivery itself is going to be a different fee,” Lara-Torre stated.

ACOG stated it has already been working to ensure members are ready for the updated billing changes and will offer patient-facing resources regarding the new-year changes.¹

“ACOG’s efforts to ensure appropriate and modernized payment across the spectrum of women’s health are far from over. ACOG is currently leading an evaluation of the gynecologic codes and will be carefully monitoring the rollout of the new obstetric codes and how they impact the provision of maternal care. We look forward to partnering with CMS through the transition from 2026 to 2027 codes to ensure that all participants are in compliance,” said Clare.

References:

1. ACOG statement on 2027 final physician fee schedule. ACOG. News release. Published November 5, 2026. Accessed November 5, 2026. https://www.acog.org/news/2026/11/acog-statement-on-2027-final-physician-fee-schedule
2. Fitch J. AMA, ACOG announce restructuring of maternity care coding for 2027. Contemporary OB/GYN. Published April 23, 2026. Accessed November 5, 2026. https://www.contemporaryobgyn.net/view/ama-acog-announce-restructuring-of-maternity-care-coding-for-2027
3. Updated: CMS proposed G-codes for obstetric billing draw concern from ACOG amid coding transition. Contemporary OB/GYN. Published July 24, 2026. Accessed November 5, 2026. https://www.contemporaryobgyn.net/view/cms-proposed-g-codes-obstetric-billing-acog-concern-2027
4. Fitch J. Eduardo Lara-Torre, MD, FACOG, on the transition to unbundled obstetric billing for 2027. Contemporary OB/GYN. Published May 11, 2026. Accessed November 5, 2026. https://www.contemporaryobgyn.net/view/eduardo-lara-torre-md-facog-on-the-transition-to-unbundled-obstetric-billing-for-2027