§ 15-709. Nurse midwives

   (a) "Nurse midwife" defined. -- In this section, "nurse midwife" means a licensed registered nurse who is certified as a nurse midwife by the American College of Nurse-Midwives.

(b) Required offering of coverage -- Insurers. -- Each insurer that proposes to issue, renew, amend, or reissue an individual, group, or blanket health insurance policy in the State that is written on an expense-incurred basis shall offer the option of providing benefits for expenses that arise from services rendered by a nurse midwife.

(c) Required offering of coverage -- Nonprofit health service plans. -- Each nonprofit health service plan that proposes to issue, renew, amend, or reissue a health insurance policy in the State shall offer the option of providing benefits for expenses that arise from services rendered by a nurse midwife.

(d) Reimbursement for services. --

   (1) This subsection applies to each individual, group, or blanket health insurance policy, contract, or certificate of an insurer or nonprofit health service plan that:

      (i) 1. is issued or delivered in the State;

         2. is issued to a group that is incorporated or has a main office in the State; or

         3. covers individuals who reside or work in the State;

      (ii) is issued, renewed, amended, or reissued on or after July 1, 1979; and

      (iii) if issued by an insurer, is written on an expense-incurred basis.

   (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of a policy, contract, or certificate subject to this subsection, if the policy, contract, or certificate provides for reimbursement for a service that is within the lawful scope of practice of a nurse midwife, the insured or any other person covered by the policy, contract, or certificate is entitled to reimbursement for the service regardless of whether the service is performed by a physician or nurse midwife.

(e) Employment by physician not required. -- A policy that provides benefits under this section for services rendered by a nurse midwife may not require, as a condition for the payment of benefits, that the nurse midwife be employed by a physician or act under a physician's orders.

(f) Utilization of benefits subject to peer review. -- The utilization of health insurance benefits provided under this section for services rendered by a nurse midwife is subject to review by a peer review committee appointed by the State Board of Nursing.

HISTORY: An. Code 1957, art. 48A, § 354N, 470M, 477R, 490A-2; 1997, ch. 35, § 2.