News

SMFM Responds to the Senate's Failure to Advance the Women's Health Protection Act

Today, the U.S. Senate failed to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA), federal legislation that would have made it a statutory right for people to access abortion care and for clinicians to provide abortion care free from unnecessary medical restrictions and bans, no matter where... Continue Reading

Pregnant People with Gestational Diabetes at Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Problems

Study Looks at Long-Term Effects of Gestational Diabetes on Heart Health Washington, DC ― Research has shown that people who develop diabetes during pregnancy, known as gestational diabetes, are at a greater risk of developing heart problems later in life. However, less is known about the range... Continue Reading

Having a Care Manager During Pregnancy Reduces Likelihood of Premature Birth for High-Risk Patients

Washington, DC ― Research shows that pregnant people on Medicaid are more likely to have worse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth, compared to those who have private insurance. When a baby is born too early — or prematurely — it puts the infant at greater risk of health... Continue Reading

High-Quality Diet in Pregnancy is Associated with a Lower Risk of Fetal Growth Restriction

Washington, DC ― Research has shown that an unhealthy diet during pregnancy can have long-term effects on a child’s health. Now, in a new study to be presented today at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine’s (SMFM) annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting™, which is being held... Continue Reading

Severity of COVID-19 Does Not Differ According to Trimester

Washington, DC ― Research shows that pregnant people who contract COVID-19 are at increased risk of severe complications, including hospitalization, ventilation, and death, compared to pregnant people without COVID-19. However, little is known about how the timing of COVID-19 infection during... Continue Reading

Chewing Sugar-Free Gum Reduced Preterm Births

Washington, DC ― Each year, an estimated 15 million babies are born prematurely or preterm (defined as delivery before the 37th week of pregnancy), and this number is rising, according to the World Health Organization. Preterm babies are at greater risk of experiencing serious health... Continue Reading

New/Updated ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Codes for 2022

Effective each year on October 1, additions, deletions, and updates to the ICD-10-CM code set are published. This year, no significant changes were made to Chapter 15, the obstetrics chapter. However, there are a few new codes that could affect the practice of Maternal Fetal Medicine. The... Continue Reading

Coding for the “new” First Trimester Detailed Diagnostic Obstetric Ultrasound

Vanita Jain MD & Fadi Bsat MD for the SMFM Coding Committee and the Division of Practice Management In 2020, the AIUM Practice Parameter for the Performance of Detailed Diagnostic Obstetric Ultrasound Examinations Between 12 weeks 0 days and 13 weeks 6 days was developed in collaboration with... Continue Reading

Pregnancy - chronic or acute problem for Medical Decision Making?

As of January 1, 2021, E/M code selection for CPT codes 99202-99215 may be based on time or medical decision-making (MDM). One of the elements used in selecting the level based on medical decision-making is diagnosis. This refers to the number and complexity of problems addressed at the... Continue Reading

Updates to 2021 E/M Office Coding Guidelines

In July 2019, the American Medical Association (AMA) published the “CPT Evaluation and Management (E/M) Office or Other Outpatient (99202-99215) and Prolonged Services (99354, 99355, 99356, 99417) Code and Guideline Changes,” which were put into effect on January 1, 2021. These... Continue Reading

Update & Guidance: 2021 CPT EM Office or Other Outpatient and Prolonged Services Code and Guideline

The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) Coding Committee; Steve Rad, MD; David Smith, MBA, CPC; Trisha Malisch, CCS-P, CPC; Fadi Bsat, MD; Vanita Jain, MD Effective January 1, 2021, the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Evaluation and Management (E/M) Office or Other Outpatient... Continue Reading

Coding for Telemedicine and Remote Patient Monitoring Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) Coding Committee; Steve Rad, MD; Dave Smith, CPC, MBA; Trisha Malisch, CCS-P, CPC; Vanita Jain, MD The purpose of this document is to provide maternal-fetal medicine subspecialists interim coding guidance for telemedicine and remote patient... Continue Reading