Upcoming billing change could make pregnancy pricier
A new billing system for maternity care in the U.S. will take effect in January, requiring doctors to charge separately for each visit and service. This change, supported by OB-GYNs, aims to better reflect the complexity of modern maternity care. However, there are concerns that it may lead to higher out-of-pocket costs for patients, particularly those with high-deductible health plans.
- ▪Doctors managing maternity care will start charging à la carte for visits and services related to pregnancy and childbirth.
- ▪The new fee-for-service codes will allow for more accurate billing based on individual patient needs.
- ▪Patient advocates are worried that the new system may increase out-of-pocket expenses for families.
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HealthWatch Upcoming billing change could make pregnancy pricier .chip { background-image: url('/fly/bundles/cbsnewscore/images/chip-bgd/chip-bgd-healthwatch.jpg'); } By Michelle Andrews June 3, 2026 / 5:00 AM EDT / KFF Health News Add CBS News on Google Having a baby in the United States is about to get more complicated.Under new billing codes that take effect in January, doctors who manage maternity care will start charging à la carte for visits and services related to pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care. It's an about-face from recent years, when doctors have often received a single "bundled" payment for maternity care they provided.
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