The way maternity care is billed is evolving, and for OB/GYN practices, the impact will be significant.
Beginning January 1, 2027, the traditional global obstetric package will be eliminated in favor of a more detailed, service-based billing model. Instead of a single bundled payment, practices will bill separately for prenatal visits, labor management, delivery, and postpartum care.
While this shift is designed to improve transparency and better reflect the complexity of modern, team-based care, it also introduces new operational and financial considerations that practices cannot afford to overlook.
For many organizations, this is more than a coding update. It is a structural change that touches workflows, reimbursement strategy, and financial performance.
Why This Change Matters for Your Practice
For years, the global OB model has provided predictability. With that changing, practices will need to rethink how they approach:
- Revenue cycle management and reimbursement strategy
- Documentation and coding workflows
- Provider productivity tracking
- Financial forecasting and budgeting
Operational Impacts to Consider Now
Even though the effective date is still ahead, practices that start early will be better positioned for a smoother transition.
1. Workflow and Staffing Adjustments: Moving from a bundled to a service-based model will require more detailed tracking of services across the patient journey. This may affect how teams document, code, and coordinate care.
2. Financial Visibility: A more granular billing model can improve insight into where revenue is generated, but only if practices have the right systems and processes in place to capture it accurately.
3. Compliance and Documentation: With increased billing specificity comes increased scrutiny. Ensuring consistent, compliant documentation will be critical.
4. Strategic Planning: Changes like this often influence long-term decisions around staffing, provider compensation models, and growth strategy. Practices that treat this as a strategic planning moment, not just a coding update, tend to be better prepared.
Kassouf’s healthcare advisory team frequently supports practices in evaluating these types of operational and financial impacts, helping align strategy with both current performance and future goals.
What This Means for Practice Leadership
For physicians and administrators, the upcoming changes highlight the importance of taking a proactive approach.
- Reevaluate internal processes
- Improve financial reporting and benchmarking
- Strengthen communication between clinical and administrative teams
- Identify gaps in systems or workflows before they create disruption
Staying Ahead of What’s Next
While the transition to a new maternity billing model may feel distant, the planning window is now.
Join the Conversation
If your team is beginning to think about how these changes may affect your practice, we invite you to continue the conversation with us.
Beyond Global OB: Preparing Your Practice for the 2027 Maternity Coding Changes
📅 Wednesday, July 29
⏰ 9-11 a.m. (Central Time)
📍 Hybrid
🍴 Complimentary refreshments included for in-person attendees