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    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerBilling CodesTemporary National Codes (Non-Medicare)HCPCS hcpcs-s9436-childbirth-preparation-lamaze-session
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    HCPCS S9436: Childbirth Preparation/Lamaze Class, Per Session

    HCPCS Level II code S9436 describes a single-session childbirth preparation/Lamaze class delivered by a non-physician provider, classified as an education/service focused on labor and delivery preparation; this service is typically provided in an outpatient clinic, community health center, hospital outpatient department, or childbirth education facility and is billed per session for expectant parents seeking instruction on labor coping techniques, breathing, and birth planning.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Fixed Wing Air Ambulance Transport, Air Ambulance, Ambulance Services (for Tennessee Only).

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A pregnant person in the third trimester enrolls in childbirth preparation/Lamaze classes taught by a certified childbirth educator (non-physician) at a hospital outpatient education center. The patient is typically low-risk obstetric with a singleton pregnancy at 28–36 weeks gestation seeking education on labor physiology, breathing and relaxation techniques, positions for labor, partner support, stages of labor, pain management options, and postpartum expectations. Sessions are scheduled weekly or biweekly, billed per session using S9436. Attendance is documented in the patient education record; the educator documents topics covered, duration of the session, patient questions, and any printed or digital materials provided. If the patient has clinical concerns identified during the session (for example elevated blood pressure or fetal movement concerns), the educator refers the patient to the obstetric clinic or triage for evaluation and documents the referral. Typical workflow: patient registers for class at hospital or clinic, intake verifies gestational age and contact information, educator conducts the session (group or individual), educator documents attendance and content, billing submits S9436 with applicable modifier(s) and linking diagnosis code(s) to the payor. Common payors include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, BUCA, and Medicare.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    59400Routine obstetric care including antepartum care, vaginal delivery (with or without episiotomy, and/or forceps) and postpartum careRepresents comprehensive obstetric care; childbirth education complements antepartum care prior to delivery services.
    99213Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient, typically 15 minutesPre-class prenatal visit or discussion with the obstetric provider that may precede referral to classes.
    99401Preventive medicine counseling and/or risk factor reduction intervention(s) provided to an individual (approximately 15 minutes)Individual prenatal counseling sessions focused on childbirth preparation content may be billed under this preventive counseling code when applicable.
    99078Educational services rendered in a group setting (e.g., patient education), each 30 minutesAlternative code used by some facilities for group prenatal education when local payor policy permits instead of S9436.
    59425Antepartum care only; 4 or more visitsAntepartum management code that describes the clinical care surrounding which childbirth classes are typically provided as education adjuncts.

    Related Modifiers

    6 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    55Modifier –55 indicates the billing provider furnished only postoperative management for a procedure that has a global surgical period. According to AAPC, this modifier is appended to the same CPT…- Use modifier -55 when billing the same CPT surgical code that has a 10- or 90-day global period and you, as a provider other than the original surgeon, furnished ONLY postoperative management (no…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
    95Modifier 95 indicates that a service was provided via synchronous, real‑time audio‑video telehealth rather than in‑person. Per CMS, AAPC and professional associations, append modifier 95 to claim…- Use modifier 95 to indicate a service was furnished via synchronous, real‑time audiovisual telehealth (a live audio‑video conference between patient and provider) rather than in‑person. - Pair…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy CodeSpecialtyNotes
    163W00000XRegistered Nurse(1) A registered nurse is a person qualified by graduation from an accredited nursing school (depending upon schooling, a registered nurse may receive…
    171M00000XCase Manager/Care CoordinatorA person who provides case management services and assists an individual in gaining access to needed medical, social, educational, and/or other servic…
    2279H0200XHome Health Registered Respiratory TherapistHome care fosters individual responsibility for self-management of chronic respiratory conditions. It includes individualized assessment based plans …
    2279P4000XPatient Transport Registered Respiratory TherapistTransport respiratory therapist provide patient assessment, initiation of treatment modalities and continued monitoring of patient status of the criti…
    163WI0600XInfection Control Registered NurseNursing Service Providers · Registered Nurse
    163WC3500XCardiac Rehabilitation Registered NurseNursing Service Providers · Registered Nurse
    246QC2700XCytotechnology Specialist/TechnologistTechnologists, Technicians & Other Technical Service Providers · Specialist/Technologist, Pathology
    207Y00000XOtolaryngology PhysicianAn otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon provides comprehensive medical and surgical care for patients with diseases and disorders that affect the ea…

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    25 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    O09.219Supervision of pregnancy with history of pre-term labor, unspecified trimester
    O09.519Supervision of elderly primigravida, unspecified trimester
    O26.01Excessive weight gain in pregnancy, first trimester
    O26.02Excessive weight gain in pregnancy, second trimester
    O26.11Low weight gain in pregnancy, first trimester
    O26.21Pregnancy care for patient with recurrent pregnancy loss, first trimester
    O36.4XX0Maternal care for intrauterine death, not applicable or unspecified
    O36.4XX1Maternal care for intrauterine death, fetus 1
    O75.82Onset (spontaneous) of labor after 37 completed weeks of gestation but before 39 completed weeks gestation, with delivery by (planned) cesarean section
    O80Encounter for full-term uncomplicated delivery

    Showing 1–10 of 25

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Emergency & Medical Transportation1 / 3

    9 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Fixed Wing Air Ambulance TransportCigna2026-08-15
    Air AmbulanceAmbetter Georgia2026-08-01
    Ambulance Services (for Tennessee Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-08-01
    Ambulance Services (for New Mexico Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-08-01
    Clinical Policy: Air AmbulanceArizona Complete Health2026-08-01
    Clinical Policy: Air AmbulanceCentene2026-08-01
    Air AmbulanceCentene2026-08-01
    Clinical Policy: Air AmbulanceAmbetter Nevada2026-08-01
    Ambulance TransportProvidence Health Plan2026-07-01

    Related Codes

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-S2152-SOLID-ORGAN-TRANSPLANTATION-GLOBAL-CARE

    HCPCS Level II S2152: Solid Organ Procurement and Transplantation

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-S2266-INDUCED-ABORTION-29-TO-31-WEEKS

    HCPCS Level II S2266: Induced Abortion, 29 to 31 Weeks

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-S3630-EOSINOPHIL-COUNT-BLOOD-DIRECT

    HCPCS Level II S3630: Eosinophil Count, Blood, Direct

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-S4017-INCOMPLETE-ART-CYCLE-CANCELLED-PRIOR-TO-STIMULATION

    HCPCS Level II S4017: Incomplete Cycle — Cancelled Prior to Stimulation

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-S8055-ULTRASOUND-GUIDANCE-MULTIFETAL-REDUCTION-TC

    HCPCS Level II S8055: Ultrasound Guidance for Multifetal Pregnancy Reduction

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-S8940-EQUESTRIAN-HIPPOTHERAPY-PER-SESSION

    HCPCS Level II S8940: Equestrian/Hippotherapy, Per Session

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-S9024-PARANASAL-SINUS-ULTRASOUND

    HCPCS Level II S9024: Paranasal Sinus Ultrasound

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-S9366-HOME-TPN-1-2L-PER-DAY-HOME-INFUSION

    HCPCS Level II S9366: Home Infusion TPN, 1–2 L/day

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-S9446-GROUP-PATIENT-EDUCATION-NON-PHYSICIAN

    HCPCS S9446: Patient Education, Non-Physician Provider, Group, Per Session

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-S9451-EXERCISE-CLASS-NON-PHYSICIAN-SESSION

    HCPCS S9451: Exercise Classes, Non-Physician Provider, Per Session

    Showing 1–10 of 532

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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