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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4149 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1127
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Marjorie C. Decker and Brandy Fluker-Reid
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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.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Marjorie C. Decker25th Middlesex1/17/2025Susannah M. Whipps2nd Franklin2/6/2025Samantha Montaño15th Suffolk2/7/2025Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire2/7/2025Mindy Domb3rd Hampshire2/10/2025 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4149 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1127
By Representatives Decker of Cambridge and Fluker-Reid of Boston, a petition (accompanied by
bill, House, No. 1127) of Marjorie C. Decker, Susannah M. Whipps and others relative to
insurance coverage and access to nurse-midwifery services. Financial Services.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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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 34. 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, and the payment rate for a service
7provided by a certified nurse-midwife that is within the scope of the certified nurse-midwife’s
8authorization to practice shall be equal to the payment rate for the same service if performed by a
9physician.
10 SECTION 2. Section 47E of Chapter 175 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
11Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following sentences:- The reimbursement for
12the services provided pursuant to this section shall be in the same amount as the reimbursement 2 of 3
13paid under the policy to a licensed physician performing the service in the area served. An
14insurer may not reduce the reimbursement paid to a licensed physician in order to comply with
15this section.
16 SECTION 3. Chapter 176A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
17section 8VV the following section:-
18 Section 8WW. Any contract between a subscriber and the corporation under an
19individual or group hospital service plan which is delivered, issued or renewed in the
20commonwealth shall provide as a benefit to all individual subscribers and members within the
21commonwealth and to all group members having a principal place of employment within the
22commonwealth for services rendered by a certified nurse midwife designated to engage in the
23practice of nurse-midwifery by the board of registration in nursing pursuant to section 80C of
24chapter 112, and the payment rate for a service provided by a certified nurse-midwife that is
25within the scope of the certified nurse-midwife’s authorization to practice shall be equal to the
26payment rate for the same service if performed by a physician.
27 SECTION 4. Section 4G of Chapter 176B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
28Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following sentences:- The reimbursement for
29the services provided pursuant to this section shall be in the same amount as the reimbursement
30paid under the policy to a licensed physician performing the service in the area served. An
31insurer may not reduce the reimbursement paid to a licensed physician in order to comply with
32this section.
33 SECTION 5. Section 4 of Chapter 176G of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
34amended by adding the following subsection:- 3 of 3
35 (g) services rendered by a certified nurse midwife designated to engage in the practice of
36nurse-midwifery by the board of registration in nursing pursuant to section 80C of chapter 112,
37subject to the terms of a negotiated agreement between the health maintenance organization and
38the provider of health care services. The reimbursement for the services provided shall be in the
39same amount as the reimbursement paid under the policy to a licensed physician performing the
40service in the area served. An insurer may not reduce the reimbursement paid to a licensed
41physician in order to comply with this section.