1 of 1
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 758 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 607
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Brendan P. Crighton
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act to increase access to nurse-midwifery services.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Brendan P. CrightonThird EssexLydia EdwardsThird Suffolk2/8/2023Patrick M. O'ConnorFirst Plymouth and Norfolk2/8/2023Thomas M. Stanley9th Middlesex2/14/2023Anne M. GobiWorcester and Hampshire2/14/2023Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester2/14/2023James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester3/6/2023 1 of 4
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 758 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 607
By Mr. Crighton, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 607) of Brendan P. Crighton,
Lydia Edwards, Patrick M. O'Connor, Thomas M. Stanley and other members of the General
Court for legislation relative to insurance coverage and access to nurse-midwifery services.
Financial Services.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3881 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
_______________
An Act to increase access to nurse-midwifery services.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 32A of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the
2following section:-
3 Section 31. The commission shall provide to any active or retired employee of the
4commonwealth insured under the group insurance commission coverage for services rendered by
5a certified nurse midwife designated to engage in the practice of nurse-midwifery by the board of
6registration in nursing pursuant to section 80C of chapter 112; provided, however, that the
7following conditions are met: (1) the service rendered is within the scope of the certified nurse
8midwife’s authorization to practice by the board of registration in nursing; (2) the policy or
9contract currently provides benefits for identical services rendered by a health care provider 2 of 4
10licensed by the commonwealth; and (3) the reimbursement for the services provided shall be in
11the same amount as the reimbursement paid under the policy to a licensed physician performing
12the service in the area served. An insurer may not reduce the reimbursement paid to a licensed
13physician to achieve compliance with this section.
14 SECTION 2. Chapter 118E of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the
15following section:-
16 Section 80. The division shall provide coverage for services rendered by a certified nurse
17midwife designated to engage in the practice of nurse-midwifery by the board of registration in
18nursing pursuant to section 80C of chapter 112; provided, however, that the following conditions
19are met: (1) the service rendered is within the scope of the certified nurse midwife’s
20authorization to practice by the board of registration in nursing; (2) the policy or contract
21currently provides benefits for identical services rendered by a health care provider licensed by
22the commonwealth; and (3) the reimbursement for the services provided shall be in the same
23amount as the reimbursement paid under the policy to a licensed physician performing the
24service in the area served. An insurer may not reduce the reimbursement paid to a licensed
25physician to achieve compliance with this section.
26 SECTION 3. Section 47E of Chapter 175 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018
27Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following sentences:- The reimbursement for
28the services provided pursuant to this section shall be in the same amount as the reimbursement
29paid under the policy to a licensed physician performing the service in the area served. An
30insurer may not reduce the reimbursement paid to a licensed physician in order to comply with
31this section. 3 of 4
32 SECTION 4. Chapter 176A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
33section 8OO the following section:-
34 Section 8PP. Any contract between a subscriber and the corporation under an individual
35or group hospital service plan which is delivered, issued or renewed in the commonwealth shall
36provide as a benefit to all individual subscribers and members within the commonwealth and to
37all group members having a principal place of employment within the commonwealth for
38services rendered by a certified nurse midwife designated to engage in the practice of nurse-
39midwifery by the board of registration in nursing pursuant to section 80C of chapter 112;
40provided, however, that the following conditions are met: (1) the service rendered is within the
41scope of the certified nurse midwife’s authorization to practice by the board of registration in
42nursing; (2) the policy or contract currently provides benefits for identical services rendered by a
43health care provider licensed by the commonwealth; and (3) the reimbursement for the services
44provided shall be in the same amount as the reimbursement paid under the policy to a licensed
45physician performing the service in the area served. An insurer may not reduce the
46reimbursement paid to a licensed physician in order to comply with this section.
47 SECTION 5. Section 4G of Chapter 176B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018
48Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following sentences:- The reimbursement for
49the services provided pursuant to this section shall be in the same amount as the reimbursement
50paid under the policy to a licensed physician performing the service in the area served. An
51insurer may not reduce the reimbursement paid to a licensed physician in order to comply with
52this section. 4 of 4
53 SECTION 6. Section 4 of Chapter 176G is of the General Laws, as so appearing, is
54hereby amended by adding the following subsection:-
55 (g) services rendered by a certified nurse midwife designated to engage in the practice of
56nurse-midwifery by the board of registration in nursing pursuant to section 80C of chapter 112,
57subject to the terms of a negotiated agreement between the health maintenance organization and
58the provider of health care services. The reimbursement for the services provided shall be in the
59same amount as the reimbursement paid under the policy to a licensed physician performing the
60service in the area served. An insurer may not reduce the reimbursement paid to a licensed
61physician in order to comply with this section.