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Midwife Medicaid Reimbursement Policies by State

Updated April 2023

Access to maternity care is key to addressing the maternal mortality crisis. Midwife services can bridge gaps in health care, reduce health disparities, and support maternal and neonatal well-being.

This interactive map summarizes state Medicaid reimbursement policies for all types of midwives including certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) and midwives who pursue alternative pathways to licensure, often referred to as certified professional midwives (CPMs), certified midwives (CMs), or direct entry midwives depending on state regulations.

The accompanying tables provide a detailed description of individual state midwife policies, including licensure for some midwives. You can also download the charts on Certified Nurse-Midwife State Medicaid Reimbursement Policy and Midwife Licensing and State Medicaid Reimbursement Policy.

Read the accompanying case studies: Improving Birthing Outcomes through Midwifery Care: New Mexico and Medicaid Reimbursement of Midwifery Services in Minnesota and Washington State Supports Diverse Pathways to Care.

Read the accompanying policy brief: Medicaid Financing of Midwifery Services: A 50-State Analysis.

For questions or updates related to this research, please reach out to Anoosha Hasan at ahasan@nashp.org.

Definitions

For the purposes of this chart and map:

  • Midwives refers to midwives without a nursing degree. Terminology for midwives without a nursing degree varies across states. Examples include: licensed midwives, direct entry midwives, certified professional midwives, and more.
  • Certified nurse-midwives refers to midwives with a nursing degree.
Edit Content
State Independent or Collaborative PracticeMedicaid Payment and Delivery
CNM Medicaid ReimbursementCNMs Can Serve as PCP in MedicaidGlobal Maternity Payment includes CNM ServicesExpanded CNM Services ReimbursedSpecific CNM Fee Schedule CNMs Included as Eligible Providers in Medicaid Payment Reform Initiatives

Alabama

 

Collaborative

 

Y (80% of physician rate)YY

Y

 

NY

Alaska*

 

Independent

 

Y (85% of physician rate)

 

YN

N

 

Arizona*

 

Independent

Y (90% of physician rate)YYNY
Arkansas*Collaborative

Y (80% of physician rate)

NN

Y

California

IndependentY (100% of physician rate)YYYYY
Colorado*Independent Y (100% of physician rate)NNY
ConnecticutCollaborativeY (100% of physician rate)NYYNY
Delaware*Collaborative Y (100% of physician rate)NN
District of ColumbiaIndependent Y (100% of physician rate)YNNNN
Florida

Hybrid model (restrictions in place)

Y (80% of physician rate)NN

Y (Healthy Start Prenatal Risk Screening (SUD/mental health screening) and

Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment or SBIRT)

YN
GeorgiaCollaborativeY (100% of physician rate)NY

Y (Screening and care coordination; for treatment services, CNMs refer the members to substance use or mental health professionals)

NN
HawaiiIndependentY (75% of physician rate)Y

Y (Pregnancy and delivery are covered as a global service)

YNN
IdahoIndependent

Y (85% of physician rate, except for services provided in a RHC, FQHC, or Indian Health Service)

NYNNY
Illinois

Collaborative

Y (100% of physician rate)YN

Y

NN
IndianaCollaborative Y (75% of physician rate)Y (Within managed care programs)N/A

Y (Well woman exams and family planning. Depending on qualifications, some may provide SUD and other behavioral health services)

NY
IowaIndependentY (85% of physician rate)YY

Y (SUD screening and treatment, mental health screening and treatment, and care coordination)

NY
Kansas

Independent

Y (75% of physician rate)

YYYNN
Kentucky

Collaborative

Y (75% of physician rate)YN

Y (Additional services may be approved on a case-by-case basis by the Medical Director)

NN
LouisianaCollaborative

Y (80% of physician rate; 100% for:

EPSDT services, physician administered medication, and long-acting reversible contraceptives)

NNY (Physical and some behavioral health services)NY
Maine*Independent

Y

MarylandIndependent Y (100% of physician rate)

Y

N

Y (SUD screening and treatment, mental health screening and treatment, and care coordination paid as part of enriched maternity services)

NY (CNMs are considered eligible providers for certain VBP metrics).
MassachusettsCollaborativeY (85% of physician rate)YYNYY
Michigan

Collaborative

Y (100% of physician rate)

YY

Y (Behavioral health, reproductive health, and SUD screening and treatment services)

YN
Minnesota

Independent

Y (100% of physician rate)YY

Y

N

Y

MississippiCollaborative

Y (90% of physician rate)

NN

Y (SUD screening and home visiting services)

N

Varies by Coordinated Care Organization (CCO)

MissouriCollaborativeY (100% of physician rate)YY (This applies to vaginal deliveries. CNMs are not allowed to bill for Caesarean Section global payments)

Y (Family planning, counseling, birth control technique well-woman gynecological care, and some infant care midwife services)

YY
MontanaIndependent and/or collaborativeY (90% of physician rate)NY

Y (Mental health screening and treatment, and caregiver health risk assessment)

NN
Nebraska*Collaborative

Y

Nevada*

Y

Y (Smoking cessation services, home visiting services)

New Hampshire

Independent

Y (100% of physician rate)

NY

Y (SUD screening, mental health screening, well woman exams, family planning)

NN
New Jersey*IndependentY (95% of physician rate)

New Mexico

 

IndependentY (100% of physician rate)YYY (Same as physician covered services)NN

New York*

Independent

Y (85% of physician rate)

Y

Y

 

North CarolinaCollaborative Y (98% of physician rate)YY

Y (SUD screening, mental health screening, care management for high risk pregnancies (CMHRP))

 

YY

North Dakota

 

Independent

 

Y (75% of physician rate for FFS; 85% of physician rate for MCO)

 

Y

 

Y (MCO); N (FFS)YNY (MCOs); N (FFS)

Ohio

Collaborative

Y (100% of physician rate)

YY

Y (Depending on service setting)

NY
OklahomaIndependent

Y (100% of physician rate)

NY

Y (SBIRT, smoking cessation)

NN

Oregon

Independent

Y (100% of physician rate)

Y

Y (Global OB package applies when all prenatal care, delivery, and postpartum care is provided by one midwife)

Y (Depending on service setting)

N

N

Pennsylvania

Collaborative

Y (100% of physician rate)

Y

Y

Y (SUD screening and treatment, mental health screening and treatment, care coordination (service referral), tobacco cessation counseling)

NY

Rhode Island

Independent

Y (100% of physician rate)

YY

Y (SUD screening, mental health screening, care coordination (service referral)

NY

South Carolina

Collaborative

Y (100% of physician rate)

NNN

Y

N
South DakotaIndependent Y (100% of physician rate)YY

Y (Mental health screening)

NY

Tennessee

Collaborative

Y (% varies by MCO)YY

Y (Reimbursable services vary by MCO)

Varies by MCO

Y
Texas

Collaborative

Y (92% of physician rate, except

100% of physician rate for laboratory services, x-ray services)

Y (MMC)

NY (See the Texas Medicaid Provider Procedures Manual for CNM reimbursable services)

Y

Y (Varies by MCO)

Utah

Independent

Y (100% of physician rate)

Y

Y

Y (SUD screening, mental health screening and treatment, other reproductive health services)

NN

Vermont

Independent

Y (100% of physician rate)

YY

Y

N

Y

Virginia

Hybrid model (restrictions in place)

Y (100% of physician rate)

NN (FFS); Y (Varies by MCO)

N (FFS);

Y (MCO) (Well woman exams and family planning)

NN (FFS); Y (Varies by MCO)
WashingtonIndependentYYY

Y (SUD screening, mental health screening, care coordination service referral)

NY

West Virginia*

Collaborative

Y (100% of physician rate)

N

Wisconsin

Collaborative

Y (90% of physician rate; 100% if CNM holds a Master’s degree)

YYN

Y

Y

Wyoming

Independent

Y (100% of physician rate)

NY

Y (SUD screening)

NN
Edit Content
State Type of Midwife

Licensing Board/

Licensure Requirements

Medicaid Payment and Delivery
Midwife Medicaid ReimbursementProvider RequirementsGlobal Maternity Payment includes Midwifery ServicesExpanded Midwifery Services ReimbursedMidwife-Specific Fee ScheduleMidwives Included as Eligible Providers in Medicaid Payment Reform Initiatives
Alaska*Direct Entry Midwife

State Board of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives

Requirements

YYY
Arizona*Licensed Midwife

Bureau of Special Licensure, Arizona Department of Health Services

Requirements

YNYN
CaliforniaLicensed Midwife

Medical Board of CA

Requirements

YEnrollment requirementsNYN(Fall under Non Physician Medical Practitioner)N
District of Columbia*Certified Professional Midwife

Advisory Committee on Certified Professional Midwives

Requirements

Y
Certified Midwife

Board of Nursing

Requirements

Y
FloridaLicensed MidwifeDepartment of Health: Council of Licensed Midwifery

Requirements

YEnrollment in Medicaid with appropriate licensureNY (Prenatal risk and SUD/mental health screening)YN
LouisianaLicensed Midwife

Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners

Requirements

Y (Covered vaginal delivery services only when provided at a Medicaid Free-Standing Birthing Center)Enrollment in Medicaid with the appropriate licensure and certificationNNNN
MinnesotaTraditional Midwife

Board of Medical Practice

Requirements

YEnrollment requirementsYY (Any services that are billable by a free-standing birth center are reimbursable for a midwife)NN
MontanaDirect Entry Midwife

Department of Labor and Industry

Requirements

YYNYN
New HampshireNew Hampshire Certified Midwife (NHCM)

New Hampshire Midwifery Council

Requirements

YRequirementsYNNN
New Jersey*Certified Professional Midwife

New Jersey State Board of Examiners

Requirements

Y
Certified Midwife

New Jersey State Board of Examiners

Requirements

Y
New MexicoLicensed Midwife

New Mexico Department of Health Public Health Division Maternal Health Program

Requirements

YRequirementsY (See Supplemental 19-03)Y (Family planning services)YN
New York*Licensed Midwife

Board of Regents and the State Education Department (SED)

Requirements

YY
OregonLicensed Direct-Entry Midwife

Board of Direct-Entry Midwifery

Requirements

YRequirementsY (Oregon’s FFS program pays the same global maternity rate regardless of provider type or setting. Since community birth is carved out of managed care (CCOs), the global payment is the same for all providers including licensed direct- entry midwifes.)Y (Family planning services)NN
South CarolinaCertified Professional Midwife

South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC)

Requirements

YMust meet SCDHEC requirement. Then goes through standard Medicaid provider enrollment process.NNYN
TexasLicensed Direct-Entry Midwife

Texas Midwifery Board

Requirements

Y (70% of physician reimbursement rate)

Requirements

Additional Requirements

NYYY
VermontLicensed Midwife

Office of Professional Regulation

Requirements

YThey must enroll to be a Vermont Medicaid provider and meet all the requirements of 42 CFR § 455 Subpart B and E.YYNY (OneCare network)
VirginiaLicensed Midwife

Board of Medicine of Virginia

Requirements

Y

FFS: The requirement is that the provider is licensed as a Nurse Practitioner by the Department of Health Professions with the specialty of Certified Nurse Midwife.

Managed Care: MCOs do not contract with non-certified nurse midwives.

N/AN/ANN/A
WashingtonLicensed Midwife

Washington Department of Health (DOH)

Requirements

YActive licensure with DOH and be a contracted provider with Medicaid.YY (SUD screening, mental health screening)YY
WyomingLicensed Midwife

Board of Midwifery

Requirements

YEnrollment application completed with a copy of licensure/certification and financial forms.YNNN

Notes

In these tables, “-” indicates information is not available and “*” indicates the information NASHP compiled about this state was publicly sourced but not confirmed by the state’s Medicaid agency.

The Midwife Licensing and State Medicaid Reimbursement Policy table only includes states that provide Medicaid reimbursement for services performed by midwives (Certified Professional Midwives or Certified Midwives).

Acknowledgements

Emily Creveling, Anoosha Hasan, and Taylor Platt contributed to this publication through research. Carrie Hanlon and Karen VanLandeghem provided guidance and review. NASHP thanks the state Medicaid officials for their review. This 50-state analysis was made possible by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

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