NURSE MIDWIFE SERVICES


House Bills 5954, 5955, 5965 and 6132

Sponsor: Rep. Triette Reeves

Committee: Insurance and Financial

Services


Complete to 11-14-00



A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILLS 5954 - 5955 AS INTRODUCED 9-26-00, HOUSE BILL 5956 AS INTRODUCED 9-27-00, AND HOUSE BILL 6132 AS INTRODUCED 11-9-00


House Bill 5954 would amend the Nonprofit Health Care Corporation Reform Act (MCL 550.1416b), which regulates Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan, so a group or nongroup certificate that provided coverage for maternity services would have to provide coverage for such services whether performed by a physician or a nurse midwife acting within the scope of his or her specialty certification, or both. The requirement would be effective January 1, 2001.


House Bill 5955 would amend the Insurance Code (MCL 500.3406p) so that a health maintenance organization (HMO) contract or an expense-incurred hospital, medical, or surgical policy or certificate of a commercial health insurer that provided coverage for maternity services would have to provide coverage for such services whether performed by a physician or a nurse midwife acting within the scope of his or her specialty certification, or both. The requirement would be effective January 1, 2001.


House Bill 5965 would amend the Public Health Code (MCL 333.21571) to require a hospital providing obstetrical services to allow a pregnant woman who presents for delivery to choose to have the delivery performed by a physician or a registered professional nurse who had been issued a specialty certification in nurse midwifery. The requirement would not apply if either 1) the health professional chosen by the woman was not readily available to perform the delivery; or 2) in a case in which the pregnant woman chose a nurse midwife, medical complications arose during the delivery that required the services of a physician.


House Bill 6132 would amend Medicaid provisions of the Social Welfare Act (MCL 400.109) to place a definition of "obstetrical care" in the act that would include prenatal and pregnancy related health care provided by a certified nurse midwife. Obstetrical care is included under the hospital services that an eligible person may receive.


The term "certified nurse midwife", as used in the bills, would refer to an individual licensed as a registered professional nurse under Article 15 (Part 172) of the Public Health Code who had been issued a specialty certification in the practice of nurse midwifery by the Board of Nursing.



Analyst: C. Couch



This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.