Ob-Gyn Coding Alert
The Postpartum Exam Includes These Elements
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Question: When we report global ob care, it includes a "postpartum exam." What is the definition of the post-partum exam? Colorado Subscriber Answer: The postpartum exam is any routine care the ob-gyn normally gives after the birth of the baby. This exam occurs within the six-week standard time frame for a vaginal delivery or sometimes the eight-week period for cesarean. You can bill complications during the postpartum period separately, but you should include routine checks, no matter how many. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) guidelines for perinatal care recommends that about four to six weeks after delivery, the mother should visit her physician for a postpartum review and examination. "This interval may be modified according to the needs of the patient with medical, obstetric, or intercurrent complications. A visit within 7-14 days of delivery may be advisable after a cesarean delivery or a complicated gestation," ACOG says. The review during the postpartum visit should include: The ACOG procedure manual indicates that the global service includes, among other things, uncomplicated outpatient visits until six weeks postpartum. Some payers use six weeks as the standard, while for others it may be longer or shorter.
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