Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont
VTTransition starts September 1, 2026
For a first visit after confirmation of pregnancy on or after September 1, 2026, bill the appropriate E/M code appended with modifier -TH and an appropriate Z34.XX or O00-O9A diagnosis code. Global maternity care and delivery codes are deleted effective January 1, 2027. A vaginal or cesarean delivery in 2026 uses the appropriate current global obstetrics codes. Seven or more antepartum visits in 2026 with delivery in 2027 use CPT 59426. Four to six use CPT 59425.
- Published
- 2026-06
- Transition starts
- September 1, 2026
- Billing starts
- January 1, 2027
- Evidence checked
- 2026-10-06
Billing notes and scope
Scope: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont obstetric claims. The August notice remains the upstream edition.
Transition: Apply the transition by date of service, not by the date of the initial prenatal visit. Prenatal services on or before August 31, 2026 should use an appropriate E/M code or antepartum code 59425 (4-6 visits) or 59426 (7 or more visits). Services on or after September 1, 2026 follow the E/M, -TH, and diagnosis instructions.
Global billing: The notice permits 59425/59426 as alternatives to appropriate E/M for qualifying prenatal dates of service through August 31, 2026. It does not authorize continued global billing for other services; antepartum dates of service on or after September 1 follow the specified E/M requirements.
The August 2026 notification, updated July 30, 2026, announces January 1, 2027 maternity code replacement and supplies September 1, 2026 antepartum transition instructions. It does not provide detailed billing instructions for the full 2027 code set. Confirm applicability to the member's specific product.