(a) A health insurance plan or health benefit plan providing maternity benefits shall also provide coverage for services rendered by a midwife licensed pursuant to 26 V.S.A. chapter 85 or an advanced practice registered nurse licensed pursuant to 26 V.S.A. chapter 28 who is certified as a nurse midwife for services within the licensed midwife's or certified nurse midwife's scope of practice and provided in a hospital or other health care facility or at home.

(b) Coverage for services provided by a licensed midwife or certified nurse midwife shall not be subject to any greater co-payment, deductible, or coinsurance than is applicable to any other similar benefits provided by the plan.

(c) A health insurance plan may require that the maternity services be provided by a licensed midwife or certified nurse midwife under contract with the plan.

(d) As used in this section, "health insurance plan" means any health insurance policy or health benefit plan offered by a health insurer, as defined in 18 V.S.A. § 9402, as well as Medicaid and any other public health care assistance program offered or administered by the State or by any subdivision or instrumentality of the State. The term shall not include policies or plans providing coverage for specific disease or other limited benefit coverage. (Added 2011, No. 35, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2011; amended 2013, No. 79, § 11, eff. Jan. 1, 2014.)