Upcoming Billing Change Could Make Pregnancy Pricier

By: Michelle Andrews

Outlets: KFF Health News

Published: June 5, 2026

Words: 1,607

Last Updated: 6 days, 23 hours ago

Body Text Preview

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. Although OB-GYNs strongly back the change and have pushed for …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

About

Email Us