CPT Code 59300 Repair Procedures for Maternity Care and Delivery

CPT 59300 is officially defined as “Episiotomy or vaginal repair, by other than attending physician” by the American Medical Association (AMA).

This code is used when a provider, other than the delivering physician, performs the surgical repair of an episiotomy or vaginal laceration following childbirth.

While the attending physician typically performs these repairs as part of the delivery package, CPT 59300 applies when a separate qualified provider, such as a specialist or surgeon, performs the repair as a distinct, medically necessary service.

Description of the Procedure

After a vaginal delivery, a woman may sustain a vaginal or perineal tear or may require repair of an episiotomy incision. In some cases, the attending physician may not be available to perform the repair, or the injury may be complex enough to require another provider’s expertise.

In such situations, the second provider performs a detailed examination and assessment of the vaginal wound or episiotomy site, removes devitalized tissue if necessary, controls bleeding through hemostasis, and repairs the vaginal wall, perineum, or surrounding tissues using layered suturing techniques.

The procedure is usually performed immediately after delivery, under local or regional anesthesia, to prevent complications such as infection, bleeding, or incontinence.

When to Use CPT 59300

CPT 59300 should be reported only when a provider who did not conduct the delivery performs the vaginal or episiotomy repair.

This service is not part of the global maternity package for the attending physician, as it represents an independent, separately billable procedure.

Typical indications include deep vaginal or perineal tears requiring complex layered repair, extensive lacerations beyond the scope of the attending provider, or cases where another provider assumes repair responsibilities due to unavailability or the need for specialized skill.

Do not report CPT 59300 when the delivering physician performs the repair (since it is included in the delivery package), when the repair is part of a cesarean section procedure, or when only minor superficial lacerations are closed.

Coding and Billing Guidelines

CPT 59300 applies only when the repair is performed by a provider other than the delivering physician.

The code has a ten-day global period.

When the procedure is performed in conjunction with other unrelated services, append modifier 59 to distinguish it as a separate and distinct service.

This procedure is generally performed in a hospital or birthing center.

Medical necessity must be clearly documented, including the depth and complexity of the laceration and the reason a separate provider was required to perform the repair.

Applicable Modifiers

Use modifier 59 for a distinct procedural service when other procedures are reported at the same encounter.

• Use modifier 52 if only a partial repair was necessary.
• Use modifier 78 when the repair represents an unplanned return to the operating room following delivery.
• Use modifier 79 if the repair is an unrelated procedure performed by the same provider during the post-delivery period.

Documentation Requirements

Accurate documentation is essential for compliance and reimbursement. The record should specify the type and degree of laceration (first through fourth degree), the identity of both the delivering and repairing providers, the reason another provider performed the repair, the anesthesia and repair technique used, the timing of the repair (immediate or delayed), and the patient’s post-procedure condition.

Example Clinical Scenarios

Scenario 1 – Repair by Consulting OBGYN

A patient sustains a fourth-degree vaginal laceration during delivery. The attending physician requests another OBGYN to perform a complex layered repair involving the rectal mucosa.

Code: CPT 59300 – Vaginal repair by other than attending physician.

Scenario 2 – On-Call Specialist Repair

During a nighttime delivery, the attending midwife calls a hospital OB surgeon to repair a deep episiotomy extending into the perineal muscles.

Code: CPT 59300 – Repair performed by a different qualified provider.

Scenario 3 – Deferred Repair

A patient experiences delayed vaginal bleeding two hours after delivery. The on-call provider performs a repair under anesthesia in the operating room.

Code: CPT 59300 with modifier 78 – Unplanned return to the operating room for vaginal repair.

Common Coding Challenges

One of the most frequent mistakes is reporting CPT 59300 when the same provider who delivered the baby also performs the repair. In that situation, the repair is bundled into the delivery code and not separately billable.

Another common issue is insufficient documentation of provider identity. The record must clearly show who performed the delivery and who performed the repair.

If a second provider performs the repair, documentation should explain the reason, such as complexity, unavailability, or skill requirement, to justify separate billing.

Billing this code within the global maternity period without the appropriate modifiers may result in denial as “included in global services.” Always use modifier 59 or 78 when appropriate.

Additionally, failure to specify the degree of the laceration can trigger denials. Always note whether the tear is first, second, third, or fourth degree for accurate justification.

Reimbursement Information

Average Medicare reimbursement for CPT 59300 ranges between $210 and $280, depending on state and facility type.

The global period for this procedure is ten days, and multiple-surgery reduction rules apply if it is billed with other procedures.

Providers should always verify current rates with payer-specific fee schedules.

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