Educate me on HB and insurance in Iowa

[riverwed070707]

My insurance does not have a HB exclusion. Can anyone tell me how this would work given the current laws regarding midwifery? Would I have to use CNM to be able to bill for her services or is there a way around it where I can use a DEM and still get coverage for prenatal care?

TIA for any info you can provide!

[Dmitrizmom]

In Iowa, the only legal midwives are CNMs.  As such, they are the only ones that insurance will pay for... Consider that if a midwife submits a billing to insurance and she isn't legal to practice that the insurance company will turn her in for practicing medicine without a license.

Best bet if you want to use a DEM, get your prenatal care from an OB to have insurance cover it.  Pay cash for the midwife's services.

Sucks.  But until the Iowa legislature gets their collective head out of their butt regarding homebirth and CPM legalization, there isn't a better solution.