The bill aims to enhance the sustainability of birth centers and the midwifery workforce in the Commonwealth by establishing the Midwifery Workforce Development Fund. This fund, administered by the Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, may be delegated to an organization representing certified professional midwives. It will be financed through state appropriations, federal grants, and private donations, and will support educational assistance, student loan forgiveness, local initiatives, and practicing midwives. An advisory committee will oversee the fund's operations, and the Secretary is required to provide an annual report on its activities.

Additionally, the bill mandates that payment rates for services provided by certified nurse-midwives and licensed certified professional midwives must be equal to those for similar services performed by physicians, regardless of the service location. It also requires that health maintenance contracts ensure payment rates for services at licensed freestanding birth centers are at least equal to those in hospitals, including care for newborns. The Department of Public Health is tasked with establishing licensing and facility guidelines for birth centers within 12 months and negotiating reasonable facility fees, while also participating in a Community Birth Data Registry to improve quality and research, ensuring confidentiality of individual birth data.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 118E-10A