HLS 20RS-811 ORIGINAL
2020 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 503
BY REPRESENTATIVE WILLARD
MEDICAID: Sets standards for Medicaid reimbursement rates for health services furnished
by midwives
1 AN ACT
2To enact Subpart B-1 of Part I of Chapter 5-E of Title 40 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes
3 of 1950, to be comprised of R.S. 40:1244.1 and 1244.2, relative to the medical
4 assistance program of this state known commonly as Medicaid; to provide for duties
5 of the Louisiana Department of Health in administering the state Medicaid program;
6 to provide relative to Medicaid reimbursement rates paid for delivery of certain
7 health services; to establish minimum standards for Medicaid rates paid for health
8 services furnished by licensed midwives; to provide for definitions; and to provide
9 for related matters.
10Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
11 Section 1. Subpart B-1 of Part I of Chapter 5-E of Title 40 of the Louisiana Revised
12Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 40:1244.1 and 1244.2, is hereby enacted to read as
13follows:
14 SUBPART B-1. PROVIDER RATES FOR MIDWIVES
15 §1244.1. Definitions
16 As used in this Subpart, the following terms have the meaning ascribed to
17 them in this Section:
18 (1) "Department" means the Louisiana Department of Health.
19 (2) "Medicaid" means the medical assistance program provided for in Title
20 XIX of the Social Security Act.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 20RS-811 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 503
1 (3) "Medicare" means the federal health insurance program provided for in
2 Title XVIII of the Social Security Act.
3 (4) "Midwife" means all of the following licensed health professionals:
4 (a) Any person licensed as a midwife by the Louisiana State Board of
5 Medical Examiners in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 37:3240 et seq.
6 (b) Any person licensed and certified as a certified nurse midwife by the
7 Louisiana State Board of Nursing in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 37:911
8 et seq.
9 §1244.2. Provider rates for midwives; rulemaking
10 A. In administering the Medicaid program of this state, the department shall
11 ensure that Medicaid reimbursement rates paid for health services delivered by
12 midwives are at least equal to the provider reimbursement rates paid by Medicare for
13 those services.
14 B. The department shall promulgate all such rules in accordance with the
15 Administrative Procedure Act as are necessary to implement the provisions of this
16 Subpart.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 503 Original 2020 Regular Session Willard
Abstract: Requires that Medicaid rates paid for health services delivered by midwives be
at least equal to the Medicare rates for those services.
Proposed law requires that in administering the Medicaid program of this state, the La.
Department of Health (LDH) shall ensure that Medicaid reimbursement rates paid for health
services delivered by licensed midwives are at least equal to the provider reimbursement
rates paid by Medicare for those services.
Proposed law requires LDH to promulgate all such administrative rules as are necessary to
implement the provisions of proposed law.
(Adds R.S. 40:1244.1 and 1244.2)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.