Reviewed by certified coders + a maternal-fetal medicine physician / Updated for 2026
OB Coding Guide
OB Coding Guide
obcodingguide.com/codes/59612/
Clinical review: Sina Haeri, MD, MHSA (MFM) · Coder review pending · Drafted July 2026
59612 Delivery
CPT 59612

CPT 59612: VBAC Delivery OnlyVBAC Delivery Only

2027 change This code is scheduled for deletion on January 1, 2027, when CPT unbundles the global maternity package. Current rules apply through 2026 dates of service. See what replaces it →
The short answer

Use 59612 when your practice delivers a vaginal birth after cesarean but provides neither the antepartum package nor the postpartum follow-up. It is the VBAC counterpart of 59409: the code for an on-call delivery, or a patient who transferred in at term and recovers elsewhere. Add postpartum care and the code becomes 59614; provide the whole pregnancy and it becomes the global 59610.

Source: CMSSource: ACOGSource: CMS MPFS 2026

When to use 59612

Report 59612 for the delivery event alone: labor management through a vaginal delivery in a patient with a prior cesarean, including any assistance used. As with every component code, it exists because care split. Pair it with 59425 or 59426 when you also provided 4 or more antepartum visits but the postpartum care goes elsewhere; 1 to 3 visits bill as individual E/M services. If the trial of labor ends in a repeat cesarean instead, the delivery-only code is 59620. The prior uterine scar is not optional context; it is the fact that selects this code family and it should be coded and documented.

Documentation checklist

Two things carry this claim: proof of the successful VBAC and a clear reason the rest of the package is not yours.

✓ Prior cesarean documented, with the corresponding diagnosis on the claim
✓ Delivery note showing vaginal delivery after trial of labor, with date and any assistance
✓ Reason for component billing: on-call coverage, transfer date, or delivery-only referral
✓ Your antepartum visit count, if any, supporting a paired antepartum code
✓ Practice assuming postpartum care identified
✓ Consistent rendering NPI on the delivery line

Global package rules

59612 is the delivery component of the VBAC global package 59610. The package boundaries are unchanged: ultrasounds, non-stress tests, labs, and problem E/M visits bill separately whoever provides them. If you find yourself providing postpartum care after billing delivery-only, correct to 59614 rather than stacking E/M visits the payer will bundle. See The Global OB Package, explained. ACOG

Reimbursement

2026 · national Medicare averages
ComponentWork RVUTotal RVU2026 rate
59612Delivery only16.0924.65$823.33

National amounts under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (non-facility total RVU x $33.4009 conversion factor, no locality/MAC adjustment). Commercial and Medicaid rates differ. Verify current values with your MAC before billing.

Common denials

CO-16 No prior-cesarean diagnosis on the claim
Why it happens
A VBAC delivery code without the supporting history reads as internally inconsistent and rejects or pends for records.
How to fix
Resubmit with the prior-cesarean diagnosis coded and the obstetric history documented.
Source: CMS
CO-97 Component billed with a global code
Why it happens
The same practice billed 59612 alongside 59610 for one pregnancy.
How to fix
One structure per pregnancy. Global for full-span care, components for split care. Void the extra line.
Source: NCCI
CO-119 Delivery already covered by another claim
Why it happens
The transferring practice billed a global code instead of antepartum-only codes.
How to fix
Have the other practice correct its claim to 59425 or 59426, then resubmit with the transfer documented.
Source: CMS
CO-50 Payer expected a postpartum-inclusive code
Why it happens
Follow-up visits at your practice appeared in claims history, suggesting 59614 was the accurate span.
How to fix
If postpartum care was actually yours, rebill 59614. If the visits were problem-focused with distinct diagnoses, appeal with that documentation.
Source: ACOG
CO-4 Modifier missing on a multiple-delivery claim
Why it happens
A second delivery line on the same date lacked the payer's required distinguishing modifier.
How to fix
Append modifier 59 or 51 per the payer's multiple-gestation policy and resubmit with both delivery times documented.
Source: CMS

FAQ

What is the CPT code description for 59612?
In plain language, 59612 covers a vaginal delivery in a patient who previously delivered by cesarean, the delivery event only, without antepartum visits or postpartum care.
When does 59612 apply instead of the global 59610?
When the surrounding care was not yours: an on-call VBAC delivery for another practice, or a late transfer who returns elsewhere for postpartum care.
Can I pair 59612 with antepartum codes?
Yes. If you provided 4 to 6 antepartum visits plus the delivery, bill 59425 alongside it; 7 or more visits pairs with 59426. Fewer than 4 bill as individual E/M services.
What if the trial of labor ends in a cesarean?
The delivery-only code becomes 59620. The VBAC family splits on outcome: 59612 when the vaginal delivery succeeds, 59620 when the attempt converts to surgery.
Does the code require that the VBAC was planned in advance?
No. A patient with a prior cesarean who arrives in labor and delivers vaginally is a VBAC by outcome. Code the delivery that happened and document the history.
CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association. Educational reference only, not billing, legal, or medical advice. Maintained by Ouma Health, a maternal-fetal telemedicine practice. Printed from obcodingguide.com, content current as of July 2026.