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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1677 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 697
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Brendan P. Crighton
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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.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Brendan P. CrightonThird Essex 1 of 3
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1677 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 697
By Mr. Crighton, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 697) of Brendan P. Crighton for
legislation relative to insurance coverage and access to nurse-midwifery services. Financial
Services.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 607 OF 2023-2024.]
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 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
10licensed by the commonwealth; and (3) the reimbursement for the services provided shall be in 2 of 3
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. Section 47E of Chapter 175 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
15Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following sentences:- The reimbursement for
16the services provided pursuant to this section shall be in the same amount as the reimbursement
17paid under the policy to a licensed physician performing the service in the area served. An
18insurer may not reduce the reimbursement paid to a licensed physician in order to comply with
19this section.
20 SECTION 3. Chapter 176A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
21section 8OO the following section:-
22 Section 8PP. Any contract between a subscriber and the corporation under an individual
23or group hospital service plan which is delivered, issued or renewed in the commonwealth shall
24provide as a benefit to all individual subscribers and members within the commonwealth and to
25all group members having a principal place of employment within the commonwealth for
26services rendered by a certified nurse midwife designated to engage in the practice of nurse-
27midwifery by the board of registration in nursing pursuant to section 80C of chapter 112;
28provided, however, that the following conditions are met: (1) the service rendered is within the
29scope of the certified nurse midwife’s authorization to practice by the board of registration in
30nursing; (2) the policy or contract currently provides benefits for identical services rendered by a
31health care provider licensed by the commonwealth; and (3) the reimbursement for the services
32provided shall be in the same amount as the reimbursement paid under the policy to a licensed 3 of 3
33physician performing the service in the area served. An insurer may not reduce the
34reimbursement paid to a licensed physician in order to comply with this section.
35 SECTION 4. Section 4G of Chapter 176B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
36Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following sentences:- The reimbursement for
37the services provided pursuant to this section shall be in the same amount as the reimbursement
38paid under the policy to a licensed physician performing the service in the area served. An
39insurer may not reduce the reimbursement paid to a licensed physician in order to comply with
40this section.
41 SECTION 5. Section 4 of Chapter 176G of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
42amended by adding the following subsection:-
43 (g) services rendered by a certified nurse midwife designated to engage in the practice of
44nurse-midwifery by the board of registration in nursing pursuant to section 80C of chapter 112,
45subject to the terms of a negotiated agreement between the health maintenance organization and
46the provider of health care services. The reimbursement for the services provided shall be in the
47same amount as the reimbursement paid under the policy to a licensed physician performing the
48service in the area served. An insurer may not reduce the reimbursement paid to a licensed
49physician in order to comply with this section.