[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1423 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1423

To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require coverage under 
      the Medicaid Program for freestanding birth center services.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              July 9, 2009

Mrs. Boxer (for herself and Mr. Begich) introduced the following bill; 
     which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require coverage under 
      the Medicaid Program for freestanding birth center services.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Medicaid Birth Center Reimbursement 
Act''.

SEC. 2. COVERAGE UNDER MEDICAID FOR FREESTANDING BIRTH CENTER SERVICES.

    (a) In General.--Section 1905 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1396d) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraph (28) as paragraph 
                (29);
                    (B) in paragraph (27), by striking at the end 
                ``and''; and
                    (C) by inserting after paragraph (27) the following 
                new paragraph:
            ``(28) freestanding birth center services (as defined in 
        subsection (l)(3)(A)) and other ambulatory services that are 
        offered by a freestanding birth center (as defined in 
        subsection (l)(3)(B)) and that are otherwise included in the 
        plan; and''; and
            (2) in subsection (l), by adding at the end the following 
        new paragraph:
    ``(3)(A) The term `freestanding birth center services' means 
services furnished to an individual at a freestanding birth center (as 
defined in subparagraph (B)), including by a licensed birth attendant 
(as defined in subparagraph (C)) at such center.
    ``(B) The term `freestanding birth center' means a health 
facility--
            ``(i) that is not a hospital; and
            ``(ii) where childbirth is planned to occur away from the 
        pregnant woman's residence.
    ``(C) The term `licensed birth attendant' means an individual who 
is licensed or registered by the State involved to provide health care 
at childbirth and who provides such care within the scope of practice 
under which the individual is legally authorized to perform such care 
under State law (or the State regulatory mechanism provided by State 
law), regardless of whether the individual is under the supervision of, 
or associated with, a physician or other health care provider. Nothing 
in this subparagraph shall be construed as changing State law 
requirements applicable to a licensed birth attendant.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 1902(a)(10)(A) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(A)) is amended by striking ``and 
(21)'' and inserting ``, (21), and (28)''.
    (c) Effective Date.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
        amendments made by this section shall take effect 90 days after 
        the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply to 
        services furnished on or after such date.
            (2) Exception if state legislation required.--In the case 
        of a State plan for medical assistance under title XIX of the 
        Social Security Act which the Secretary of Health and Human 
        Services determines requires State legislation (other than 
        legislation appropriating funds) in order for the plan to meet 
        the additional requirement imposed by the amendments made by 
        this section, the State plan shall not be regarded as failing 
        to comply with the requirements of such title solely on the 
        basis of its failure to meet this additional requirement before 
        the first day of the first calendar quarter beginning after the 
        close of the first regular session of the State legislature 
        that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act. For 
        purposes of the previous sentence, in the case of a State that 
        has a 2-year legislative session, each year of such session 
        shall be deemed to be a separate regular session of the State 
        legislature.
                                 <all>