Bill > H1117

This bill establishes a comprehensive framework to support midwifery services and birth centers in Massachusetts through multiple key provisions. The legislation creates a Midwifery Workforce Development Fund to provide financial assistance for midwifery education, including program costs, tuition, licensing fees, and student stipends, as well as a student loan forgiveness program for certified professional and nurse midwives. The bill mandates that insurance providers and state employee health plans reimburse midwives and birth centers at the same rates as physicians for equivalent services, ensuring fair compensation and improving access to midwifery care. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Public Health to establish specific licensing requirements for birth centers, develop guidelines in consultation with midwifery and birth center experts, and waive plan review fees for centers experiencing financial hardship. The legislation also requires the creation of a Community Birth Data Registry to collect and analyze data on community births, which will support quality improvement and research while protecting individual confidentiality. An advisory committee will oversee the Midwifery Workforce Development Fund, composed of representatives from various midwifery, healthcare, and reproductive justice organizations, to ensure comprehensive and strategic implementation of the fund's goals.

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https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1117