NURSE MIDWIFE COVERAGE H.B. 4361 (S-1) & 4362 (S-2):
FLOOR ANALYSIS
House Bill 4361 (Substitute S-1 as reported)
House Bill 4362 (Substitute S-2 as reported)
Sponsor: Representative Triette Reeves
House Committee: Health Policy
Senate Committee: Health Policy
CONTENT
House Bills 4361 (S-1) and 4362 (S-2) would amend the Nonprofit Health Care Corporation Reform Act and the Insurance Code, respectively, to require a policy or certificate that provided coverage for obstetrical and gynecological services to include coverage for those services whether performed by a physician or a nurse midwife acting within the scope of his or her license or specialty certification, or offer to provide those services, beginning March 1, 2005. House Bill 4361 (S-1) would apply to a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan group or nongroup certificate. House Bill 4362 (S-2) would apply to a health maintenance organization contract and an expense-incurred hospital, medical, or surgical policy or certificate.
In addition to or as an alternative to the services described above, the policy or certificate could offer to provide coverage for maternity services and gynecological services rendered during prenatal and postnatal care whether performed by a physician or nurse midwife acting within the scope of his or her license or specialty certification.
Under the bills, "nurse midwife" would mean an individual licensed as a registered professional nurse who had been issued a specialty certification in the practice of nurse midwifery by the Michigan Board of Nursing under the Public Health Code.
Proposed MCL 550.1416d (H.B. 4361) Legislative Analyst: Julie Koval
Proposed MCL 500.3406l (H.B. 4362)
FISCAL IMPACT
The bills would require insurance companies to cover nurse midwife services. As State and local governments provide medical coverage for the vast majority of their employees, this mandated coverage would affect the rates paid. While there are some claims that nurse midwife services are less expensive than physician services, evidence for these claims is not definitive; therefore, the fiscal impact of these bills is indeterminate.
Date Completed: 9-17-04 Fiscal Analyst: Steve Angelotti
Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. hb4361&4362/0304