A. Any individual and group subscriber contracts delivered in New Mexico which provide for obstetrical and/or maternity benefits on a service basis or an indemnity basis, or both, provide for treatment of persons for the prevention, cure or correction of any illness or physical or mental condition shall include coverage for the services of a certified nurse-midwife or registered lay midwife as defined in Subsection B of this section. Deductibles, limits of coverage or other terms and conditions of coverage for such services shall not differ substantially from coverage for the same or similar services provided by other practitioners.
B. As used in this section:
(1) "certified nurse-midwife" means any person who is licensed by the board of nursing as a registered nurse and who is registered with the health services division of the health and environment department [department of health] as a certified nurse-midwife; and
(2) "registered lay midwife" means any person who practices lay midwifery and who is registered as a registered lay midwife by the health services division of the health and environment department [department of health].
History: 1978 Comp., § 59A-47-28.1, enacted by Laws 1985, ch. 192, § 2.
ANNOTATIONSCross references. — For freedom of choice of hospital and practitioner, see 59A-22-32 NMSA 1978.
Bracketed material. — The bracketed material was inserted by the compiler and it is not part of the law. Laws 1991, ch. 25, § 16 repealed former 9-7-4 NMSA 1978, relating to the health and environment department, and enacted a new 9-7-4 NMSA 1978, creating the department of health.
Applicability. — Laws 1985, ch. 192, § 3 made the provisions of Laws 1985, ch. 192, § 2 applicable to any policy or contract which was delivered or issued for delivery in this state on or after July 1, 1985, and to any existing policy, contract or plan on its anniversary or renewal date after June 30, 1985, or at the expiration of the applicable collective bargaining contract, if any, whichever is later.