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H1127 • 2025

An Act to increase access to nurse-midwifery services

An Act to increase access to nurse-midwifery services

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Decker, Marjorie C.
Last action
2025-08-28
Official status
Hearing rescheduled to 04/29/2025 from 10:00 AM-01:00 PM in A-2 and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act to increase access to nurse-midwifery services

An Act to increase access to nurse-midwifery services By Representatives Decker of Cambridge and Fluker-Reid of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act to increase access to nurse-midwifery services 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.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2025-08-28 Joint

    Hearing rescheduled to 04/29/2025 from 10:00 AM-01:00 PM in A-2 and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time

  2. 2025-07-31 House

    Accompanied a new draft, see H4334

  3. 2025-04-23 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 04/29/2025 from 10:00 AM-02:00 PM in A-2

  4. 2025-02-27 House

    Referred to the committee on Financial Services

  5. 2025-02-27 Senate

    Senate concurred

Official Summary Text

An Act to increase access to nurse-midwifery services
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.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
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Bill H.1127

SECTION 1. Chapter 32A of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 34. The commission shall provide to any active or retired employee of the commonwealth insured under the group insurance commission coverage for services rendered by a certified nurse midwife designated to engage in the practice of nurse-midwifery by the board of registration in nursing pursuant to section 80C of chapter 112, and the payment rate for a service provided by a certified nurse-midwife that is within the scope of the certified nurse-midwife’s authorization to practice shall be equal to the payment rate for the same service if performed by a physician.

SECTION 2. Section 47E of Chapter 175 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following sentences:- The reimbursement for the services provided pursuant to this section shall be in the same amount as the reimbursement paid under the policy to a licensed physician performing the service in the area served. An insurer may not reduce the reimbursement paid to a licensed physician in order to comply with this section.

SECTION 3. Chapter 176A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 8VV the following section:-

Section 8WW. Any contract between a subscriber and the corporation under an individual or group hospital service plan which is delivered, issued or renewed in the commonwealth shall provide as a benefit to all individual subscribers and members within the commonwealth and to all group members having a principal place of employment within the commonwealth for services rendered by a certified nurse midwife designated to engage in the practice of nurse-midwifery by the board of registration in nursing pursuant to section 80C of chapter 112, and the payment rate for a service provided by a certified nurse-midwife that is within the scope of the certified nurse-midwife’s authorization to practice shall be equal to the payment rate for the same service if performed by a physician.

SECTION 4. Section 4G of Chapter 176B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following sentences:- The reimbursement for the services provided pursuant to this section shall be in the same amount as the reimbursement paid under the policy to a licensed physician performing the service in the area served. An insurer may not reduce the reimbursement paid to a licensed physician in order to comply with this section.

SECTION 5. Section 4 of Chapter 176G of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following subsection:-

(g) services rendered by a certified nurse midwife designated to engage in the practice of nurse-midwifery by the board of registration in nursing pursuant to section 80C of chapter 112, subject to the terms of a negotiated agreement between the health maintenance organization and the provider of health care services. The reimbursement for the services provided shall be in the same amount as the reimbursement paid under the policy to a licensed physician performing the service in the area served. An insurer may not reduce the reimbursement paid to a licensed physician in order to comply with this section.

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