Rhode Island § 27-18-31 - Accident and Sickness Insurance Policies

§ 27-18-31. Insurance coverage for services of licensed midwives.

(a) For the purposes of this section, “licensed midwives” means any midwife licensed under § 23-13-9.

(b) Every individual or group hospital or medical expense insurance policy or individual or group hospital or medical services plan contract delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this state shall provide coverage for the services of licensed midwives in accordance with each health insurer’s respective principles and mechanisms of reimbursement credentialing and contracting if the services are within the licensed midwives’ area of professional competence as defined by regulations promulgated pursuant to § 23-13-9, and are currently reimbursed when rendered by any other licensed healthcare provider. No insurer or hospital or medical service corporation may require supervision, signature, or referral by any other healthcare provider as a condition of reimbursement, except when those requirements are also applicable to other categories of healthcare providers. No insurer or hospital or medical service corporation or patient may be required to pay for duplicate services actually rendered by both a licensed midwife and any other healthcare provider. Direct payment for licensed midwives will be contingent upon services rendered in a licensed healthcare facility and for services rendered in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the department of health; provided, that this provision shall not prohibit payment for services pursuant to § 42-62-26 or for other services reimbursed by third-party payors.