RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 207 (SB 135) 2023 Regular Session Barrow
New law provides that, subject to approval by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services, the La. Dept. of Health shall implement a Medicaid reimbursement rate for services
by licensed midwives or certified nurse midwives that is, at a minimum, 95% of the amount
reimbursed to licensed physicians for the provision of the same health services in pregnancy
and childbirth, when acting within their scope of practice.
New law defines "midwife" and requires the midwife to be enrolled as a Medicaid provider
and be a managed care organization network or fee for service provider in the Medicaid
program in order to be reimbursed in accordance with new law.
New law shall not be construed to do any of the following:
(1)Require a decrease in any reimbursement rate for midwife services that are
reimbursed equal to the amount reimbursed to licensed physicians.
(2)Expand, diminish, or alter the scope of practice of a midwife.
(3)Require Medicaid to cover any specific healthcare service.
New law shall be known and may be cited as the "Jessica Collins-Ruffin Act".
Effective August 1, 2023.
(Adds R.S. 46:451)