OB/GYN Billing Pain Points: Managing Global Obstetric Packages and Reducing Claim Denials

OB/GYN practices today aren’t just managing patients, they’re managing some of the most complicated billing structures in all of healthcare. And at the top of that list? Global maternity billing.

From prenatal care to postpartum follow-ups, the global obstetric package requires precision, consistency, and airtight documentation. One small misstep can trigger claim denials, revenue leakage, and months of administrative back-and-forth.

At MBNC, we’ve seen firsthand how overlooked details inside the global package quietly drain revenue from OB/GYN practices. This article breaks down the most common pain points, coding mistakes, and the precautions needed to stay compliant and profitable.

Why Global Maternity Billing Is So Complex

Global obstetric billing bundles a long list of services into one inclusive fee. This means OB/GYN practices must correctly track and report:

All prenatal visits.
Routine labs and screenings (when included).
Vaginal or cesarean delivery services.
Postpartum care up to 6 weeks.

The challenge? These services span months, involve multiple providers, and require coordination with hospitals, labs, and insurance plans. If even one service is incorrectly documented or separated from the global package, your claims become vulnerable to denials and audits.

The Biggest Pain Point: Navigating Global Maternity Billing Rules

The rules surrounding what is and is not included in the global package are not only payer-specific but constantly evolving. Common challenges include:

Differentiating routine prenatal visits from problem-or high-risk-specific visits.
Determining when to bill ultrasound services separately.
Managing shared care between multiple OB providers.
Tracking patients who transfer in or out mid-pregnancy.
Handling delivery complications that fall outside the global package.

Without a structured billing workflow, OB/GYN practices risk underbilling, overbilling, or unintentionally triggering payer flags.

Common Mistakes

Billing Separately for Services Already Included

One of the most frequent—and costly—errors we find in OB/GYN claims is when practices unbundle services that are already paid for within the global obstetric package. Examples include:

Billing E/M codes for routine prenatal visits.
Submitting separate claims for postpartum care.
Charging for routine urinalysis or fetal heart tone checks.
Billing a problem visit that was coded incorrectly as routine care.

These unbundling errors not only lead to claim denials, they also expose your practice to compliance risks and potential recoupment.

Incorrect Coding for High-Risk or Problem-Based Visits

Not every prenatal visit is routine—but distinguishing them properly is critical. We frequently see:

Incorrect ICD-10 coding for pregnancy-related complications.
Missing documentation to support problem-based E/M levels.
Failure to append the correct modifiers.
Services billed without linking to the correct pregnancy trimester codes.

When these errors occur, payers automatically reject or downcode claims, leaving practices with preventable revenue losses.

Missing or Incomplete Delivery Documentation

Because global maternity care spans multiple months, documentation errors accumulate easily. Common documentation issues include:

Missing delivery reports.
Undocumented antepartum visits.
Incorrect gestational age.
Missing provider signatures.
Incomplete postpartum care documentation.

A single missing note can jeopardize the entire global billing cycle, and delay reimbursement for weeks.

Precise Tracking from Prenatal to Postpartum Care

Accurate documentation is the backbone of successful OB/GYN billing, but the real key is continuity. Practices must maintain:

A centralized tracking system for all visits and services.
Clear separation of problem-based vs routine prenatal visits.
Accurate delivery logs and hospital documentation.
Thorough postpartum follow-up notes.
Modifier usage guidelines for non-global services.

When your documentation is consistent from the first prenatal visit to the final 6-week postpartum check, audits decrease and reimbursements stabilize.

How MBNC Helps OB/GYN Practices Avoid Denials and Maximize Revenue

OB/GYN billing without expert oversight is risky—especially with the complexity of global obstetric packages. At MBNC, we help practices:

Correctly bundle global maternity services: Ensuring every service is accurately included or excluded.
Prevent unbundling errors: Protecting your practice from compliance flags and unnecessary denials.
Track prenatal to postpartum care with precision: Our structured workflows ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
Capture every billable complication and additional service: From high-risk pregnancy codes to ultrasound billing and problem visits.
Maintain payer-compliant documentation: Reducing audit risk and eliminating preventable recoupments.
Increase clean claim rates and accelerate reimbursements: So your practice gets paid correctly, and faster.

With MBNC managing your billing, your OB/GYN team stays focused on what matters most: patient care, not paperwork.

OB/GYN Billing with MBNC

Global obstetric billing doesn’t have to be a revenue-draining nightmare. With the right systems, coding precision, and expert oversight, OB/GYN practices can dramatically reduce denials and protect every dollar they earn.

If your practice is struggling with global maternity billing, documentation gaps, or recurring denials, MBNC is here to step in.