This bill mandates that Medicaid must cover specific home births that are attended by a licensed midwife. It aims to expand access to home birth options for families who prefer this method of delivery while ensuring that the services provided by midwives are recognized and compensated under Medicaid. The legislation also grants rulemaking authority to establish guidelines and criteria for the implementation of this coverage.

In addition to the new coverage requirements, the bill amends existing sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA), specifically sections 37-8-202, 37-27-105, and 53-6-101, to align with the new provisions regarding home birth coverage. The effective date of the bill will be established upon its passage, allowing for timely implementation of the new Medicaid coverage policy.

Statutes affected:
HB0655_1.pdf: 53-6-101, 53-6-113
HB0655_2.pdf: 53-6-101, 53-6-113
Amended: 37-8-202, 37-27-105, 53-6-101, 53-6-113
Introduced: 53-6-101, 53-6-113