American Medical Association Details Historic 2027 Maternity Billing Overhaul
Chicago, Saturday, 6 June 2026.
The AMA recently released a webinar detailing the 2027 shift from bundled maternity care to itemized billing, a historic change impacting services that represent 0.8% of the US GDP.
Unbundling the 1980s Framework
The transition, scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027, represents the most significant overhaul in maternity billing in a generation [3]. Since the 1980s, prenatal care, delivery, and the postpartum period have been governed by a global bundled payment model [3]. The upcoming Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) restructuring will replace this long-standing framework with a fee-for-service, encounter-based system [1][3]. In practical terms, healthcare providers will move from a “prix fixe” billing model to an “à la carte” line-item approach [3]. With maternity care standing as the most commonly used health service in the United States, the financial stakes are immense, directly touching approximately 0.8% of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) [3].
The Four Phases of Modern Obstetric Care
During the June 2 webinar, industry experts detailed how the new coding structure will operate across four distinct clinical phases: antepartum care, labor management, delivery care, and postpartum care [1]. Leading the presentation were Leslie Prellwitz, the AMA director of CPT content management and development, and Tammy Love, the American Hospital Association (AHA) director of coding and classification policy [1]. By breaking down the maternity journey into these specific phases, the new system aims to provide a clearer, more accurate financial reporting mechanism for every patient encounter [1].
Market Implications and Provider Preparation
As the January 1, 2027 implementation date approaches, various medical associations are actively mobilizing to prepare their members for the administrative complexities ahead [2][3]. For instance, on June 5, 2026, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) District II announced an upcoming session titled “Introduction to 2027 Obstetric Services Billing Changes” for its 2026 Annual District Meeting [4]. This session is specifically designed to help ob-gyns, payers, and billing staff develop practical strategies for a smooth transition away from the global obstetrics code [4].