Certified nurse midwives could be one step nearer to full federal reimbursement for their services, thanks to a recent vote in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The House passed the “Children’s Health and Medicare Protection Act of 2007 (CHAMP)” (H.R.3162), which expands health care coverage to pregnant women and their children and addresses a long-standing inequity in reimbursement for services of certified nurse-midwives (CNMs), the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) reports.

Big bonus: H.R. 3162 eliminates payment limits for CNM services under Medicare dating back to 1988, according to the ACNM. CNMs currently are limited to receiving 65 percent of the Medicare fee, and many Medicaid and private health plans follow Medicare fee schedules, further reducing access to care for vulnerable populations.

Under H.R.3126, as of April 1, 2008, CNMs would join the ranks of other health professionals already receiving 100 percent reimbursement for their services under Medicare.

“H.R.3162 can have a profound impact on health coverage for children and improve women’s access to midwifery services under the Medicare program,” stated ACNM President Eunice K. M. “Kitty” Ernst, CNM, MPH, DSc(Hon), FACNM. “The legislation would ensure that many of our nation’s uninsured children have access to vital health care coverage through the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).”

Multiple benefits: The bill would also improve access to care for children in underserved areas, help reduce minority health disparities, and protect the Medicare program for the long term, said Ernst.

“Expanded access to midwifery care in other countries has produced better outcomes at lower cost and is supported in this country by 80 years of outcomes research on midwifery care,” Ernst noted.

“Reports and recommendations from both the public and private sector also point to the important role that midwives can play in reducing infant mortality, unnecessary cesarean sections, and routine medical interventions in the normal process of childbirth.”

The ACNM also supports provisions within the SCHIP portion of the bill that will allow states to apply outreach procedures and programs to all children and pregnant women and provide states the option to expand and add coverage of pregnant women under SCHIP.

“ACNM congratulates the House of Representatives on this tremendous achievement, and celebrates the passionate advocacy of midwives who helped achieve this important victory,” said Ernst. “It’s critically important that we maintain this momentum to ensure strong support in the Senate for this provision so that it is finally enacted into law,” she urged.