§ 46:451 — Medicaid reimbursement; midwifery services

Louisiana § 46:451

• Jurisdiction: Louisiana
• Title 46: Public Welfare and Assistance

Text

§451. Medicaid reimbursement; midwifery services
A. The legislature hereby finds and affirms all of the following:
(1) Midwives are community-based practitioners who provide comprehensive,
holistic, individualized maternity care and alternative birthing services to low-risk clients.
(2) Midwifery care is family-centered and individualized to consider the unique
cultural, ethnic, psychosocial, nutritional, and educational needs of the client and supports
healthy lifestyle habits that benefit the whole family.
(3) Midwives have made a tremendous contribution to the health and welfare of
mothers, and the practice of midwifery continues to advance as a profession as these
providers comprise an increasing part of mainstream health care.
B. The Louisiana Department of Health shall implement a Medicaid reimbursement
rate for midwifery services that is, at a minimum, ninety-five percent of the amount
reimbursed to licensed physicians for the provision of the same health services in pregnancy
and childbirth when acting within their scope of practice.
C. For purposes of this Section, "midwife" means a licensed midwife licensed by the
Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners pursuant to R.S. 37:3240 et seq. or a certified
nurse midwife licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing pursuant to R.S. 37:913.
D.(1) The midwife shall be enrolled as a Medicaid provider and be a managed care
organization network or a fee-for-service provider in the Medicaid program in order to be
reimbursed in accordance with this Section.
(2) Implementation of the reimbursement rate provided for in this Section shall be
subject to approval by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
(3) The Louisiana Department of Health may promulgate any rules as may be
necessary to implement the provisions of this Section.
E.(1) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to require a decrease in any
reimbursement rate for midwife services that are reimbursed equal to the amount reimbursed
to licensed physicians.
(2) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to expand, diminish, or alter the scope
of practice of a midwife.
(3) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to require the Medicaid program to
cover any specific healthcare service.

Legislative History

Acts 2023, No. 207, §1.