Capital Blue Cross
Transition starts September 1, 2026
Reimbursement policy FP-01.011, Obstetrical Maternity Services, goes into effect September 1, 2026 and prepares providers for the 2027 move away from global obstetric codes toward visit-based reporting. Before September 1, 2026, the first prenatal visit after confirmation of pregnancy continues to use bundled codes. On or after September 1, 2026, that first prenatal visit requires an E/M code with modifier TH and ICD-10-CM Z3A.XX for weeks of gestation. FP-01.011 also addresses obstetrics and maternity services transitioning from global-based billing to visit/service-based billing effective January 1, 2027.
- Published
- Not stated in source
- Transition starts
- September 1, 2026
- Billing starts
- January 1, 2027
- Evidence checked
- 2026-10-08
Billing notes and scope
- Codes affected
- Not published
- Modifiers
- TH
- Global allowed through
- 2026-12-31
- Applies by
- Date of initial prenatal visit
- Product
- Not published
- Source excerpt
- On or after September 1, 2026, that first prenatal visit requires an E/M code with modifier TH and ICD-10-CM Z3A.XX for weeks of gestation.
Scope: Capital Blue Cross reimbursement policy FP-01.011. The maternity sentences do not name a narrower product line.
Transition: A different notice retires NR-30.029 effective August 31, 2026. That retirement date is not the maternity billing date.
Global billing: Global-based billing transitions to visit/service-based billing effective January 1, 2027. The notice sentence does not list the January 1 code numbers.
The September 1, 2026 code-removal sentences for other policies do not name the maternity codes, so those maternity codes are not part of this record.
Example questions
A prenatal visit on September 1, 2026 with delivery on January 1, 2027 — global or itemized billing for Capital Blue Cross?
What can I bill for Capital Blue Cross after December 31, 2026?
Capital Blue Cross's guidance is 'Confirmed 2027 guidance'. What should I do for claims with DOS on or after Jan 1, 2027?