The bill amends Chapters 27-18 and 27-19 of the General Laws to require that all individual or group health insurance contracts and medical expense policies issued or renewed in the state on or after January 1, 2026, must cover services provided by certified professional midwives (CPMs). A CPM is defined as a trained professional who has completed an accredited midwifery program, holds certification from the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM), and is licensed to practice midwifery. The legislation prohibits insurers from imposing additional requirements such as supervision or referral for reimbursement of CPM services, and it also prevents them from requiring payment for duplicate services provided by both a CPM and another healthcare provider.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that health insurance contracts covering CPM services must report utilization and cost information to the office of the health insurance commissioner by July 1, 2026, and annually thereafter. Certain types of insurance, including hospital confinement indemnity and disability income, are exempt from these requirements. The new provisions will take precedence over any conflicting laws or regulations, ensuring that the coverage for CPM services is maintained.