CPT Coding for OB Care in Mississippi: Global Obstetric Package Rules Explained

Accurate obstetric coding is essential for appropriate reimbursement, compliance, and quality reporting in Mississippi. At the same time, most commercial payers continue to accept the traditional global obstetric package; Mississippi Medicaid no longer permits global codes (59400, 59510, etc.). 

All maternity services for Medicaid beneficiaries must be unbundled and billed by date of service. This guide provides physicians and billing staff with a clear, practical reference for selecting the correct CPT codes, understanding payer-specific rules, and avoiding common denials in daily practice.

What “Global” OB Billing Means in Mississippi

Understanding the concept of “global” obstetric billing is important when comparing traditional CPT billing models with Mississippi Medicaid requirements.

Global OB Codes Under CPT

In standard CPT terminology, global OB codes such as 59400, 59510, 59610, and 59618 represent routine obstetric care billed under a single code. These codes bundle:

• Standard antepartum visits
• Delivery services
• Routine postpartum follow-up

Payment is issued as one lump-sum amount for the entire maternity episode when care is uninterrupted and provided by the same physician or group.

Mississippi Medicaid’s Global Package Concept

Mississippi Medicaid defines a “global package” within its Physician Services rules as a single payment covering all services normally furnished during a defined episode of care. Historically, this framework included maternity global packages when global OB CPT codes were payable under Medicaid policy.

How Mississippi Medicaid Defines Unbundled OB Billing

Under current Mississippi Medicaid policy and managed care reimbursement rules, global OB codes are not reimbursed. Managed Care Organizations, including UnitedHealthcare Community Plan under MississippiCAN, require providers to unbundle maternity services and bill each component separately rather than submitting a single global code.

What Unbundled Maternity Billing Means

Unbundled OB billing requires reporting antepartum, delivery, and postpartum services as distinct claims:

Antepartum Care

Antepartum services are billed using individual E/M visit codes or partial antepartum codes:

• 59425 for 4–6 visits
• 59426 for 7 or more visits
  For MississippiCAN members, billing is often required on a per-date-of-service basis.

Delivery Services

Delivery is billed using delivery-only CPT codes, such as:

• 59409 – Vaginal delivery only
• 59514 – Cesarean delivery only
  Other delivery-only CPT codes are used when applicable.

Postpartum Care

Postpartum services are billed separately using 59430 or appropriate E/M codes, unless the postpartum care is already included in a delivery-plus-postpartum combination code.

This unbundled structure reflects Mississippi Medicaid’s current maternity billing model and is required for compliant claim submission.

Operational Impact of Mississippi Medicaid’s Unbundled OB Definition

Because Mississippi Medicaid and its Managed Care Organizations do not reimburse classic global maternity codes, the concept of “global OB” functions differently in practice. For Medicaid, “global” now exists primarily as a CPT construct, while the program’s operational definition is an unbundled billing model that links payment to each service actually rendered.

Impact on OB/GYN Billing Operations

OB/GYN practices that continue submitting 59400-type global codes for Mississippi Medicaid encounters typically receive claim denials or rebundling messages on Explanation of Benefits (EOBs). To achieve payment, providers must instead bill services using the unbundled structure required under Division of Medicaid policy and each MCO’s obstetrical reimbursement guidelines.

This operational shift requires practices to track and bill antepartum visits, delivery services, and postpartum care separately, ensuring each claim reflects the service provided rather than a bundled maternity episode.

Practical Next Step

A one-page comparison grid contrasting the CPT global definition with the Mississippi Medicaid practical definition, including scenarios such as full care, delivery-only, and transferred care, can help align clinical workflows with compliant billing practices.

BillingFreedom Honored To Simplify OB Billing in Mississippi and Maximize Reimbursements

OB Medical Billing Services in Mississippi demand accuracy and compliance to keep revenue flowing smoothly. BillingFreedom specializes in handling prenatal, delivery, and postpartum claims, ensuring every submission meets Medicaid and commercial insurance requirements.

Our experts also address complex scenarios that can cause denials, including modifier errors and incomplete documentation. By partnering with BillingFreedom for OB Medical Billing Services in Mississippi, providers can reduce claim rejections, speed up reimbursements, and focus on delivering quality patient care while staying up-to-date with state-specific billing changes.

For more details about our exceptional medical billing services, please don't hesitate to contact us via email at info@billingfreedom.com or call us at +1 (855) 415-3472.

Your financial tranquility is our priority!