Obstetrical care

What is CPT Code 59400?

Global obstetric package for routine vaginal delivery including antepartum care, delivery, and postpartum care. The global package covers all prenatal visits, the delivery, and the 6-week postpartum visit as a single bundled charge.

The Medicare reimbursement rate shown above is the amount the federal government has determined is a reasonable payment for this service. Hospitals and providers that participate in Medicare have agreed to accept these rates from Medicare patients.

Who typically bills this:OB/GYN or midwife (physician practice)

Common Billing Errors for CPT 59400

• !Individual prenatal visit codes billed in addition to the global package (these are bundled)
• !Postpartum visit billed separately by the same provider within the global period
• !Induction of labor or epidural billed as part of the physician's fee when these are separate services

Red Flags on Your Bill

Negotiation Tips for CPT 59400

1. 1The OB global fee covers all prenatal and postnatal care from the same provider — you should not receive separate bills for each prenatal visit
2. 2If you transferred care mid-pregnancy, partial package codes apply — verify the correct code was used
3. 3Hospital facility fees are billed separately from the physician global — negotiate them independently

Codes That Often Appear With This One

These CPT codes commonly appear on the same bill. Review each one to spot potential bundling errors or duplicate charges.

Found CPT 59400 on Your Bill?

If you see CPT code 59400 on a hospital or medical bill, compare the charged amount to the Medicare rate above. If your bill shows a significantly higher charge, you may have grounds to negotiate.

1. Note the amount charged for CPT 59400 on your itemized bill
2. Compare it to the Medicare rate above — calculate the markup
3. Call the billing department and use the Medicare rate as your anchor:“I see CPT code 59400 billed at [amount]. The Medicare rate for this procedure is $2,407.41. I'd like to discuss a fair adjustment.”