In a dramatic new update to the CPT coding system, the American Medical Association is replacing the existing system of bundled maternity care payments with a new set of more granular, itemized codes.
The new codes—overturning a status quo that has been in place since the mid-1990s—could enable targeted reimbursement for more complex services offered by modern obstetric specialists and supporting clinicians. However, at the same time, the switch from bundled payments to fee-for-service codes could undermine value-based care efforts to reduce unnecessary services.