What's happening
This bill requires the creation of risk management courses for obstetricians and midwives, offering insurance premium reductions for successful completion.
Why it matters
Seeks to improve patient safety and birth outcomes. by requiring specialized, evidence-based risk management education for obstetricians and midwives, potentially reducing medical errors and complications related to childbirth.
Aligns continuing education with current best practices. by mandating up-to-date training on critical topics such as elective deliveries, cesarean reduction, management of maternal emergencies, and improving communication with patients, which may lead to better standards of care.
Provides financial incentives for practitioners. by allowing insurance premium reductions for those who complete approved risk management courses, which could help address high malpractice insurance costs and encourage more providers to pursue ongoing professional development.
Expands eligibility and flexibility in course delivery. by including both physicians (obstetricians and certain family practitioners) and licensed midwives, and by permitting distance learning, making it easier for a wider range of providers to participate and benefit.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Discounts for Safety Training
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Substituted by A568
- Ordered to third reading cal.1378
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Reported and committed to finance
- Referred to health
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Discounts for Safety Training
Vetoed · Sponsor Amy Paulin
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3158
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 4, 2019
Introduced by Sen. RAMOS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law and the insurance law, in relation to premium reduction for obstetric practitioners who complete a risk management strategies course
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 2506-a to read as follows:
§ 2506-a. Risk management strategies in obstetrics and midwifery courses. 1. In order to improve patient safety, birth outcomes and to promote informed consultation by patients with their physicians and licensed midwives during the prenatal through intrapartum and postpartum periods, the commissioner shall approve professional education courses for eligible physicians and licensed midwives as provided in subdivision four of this section that covers risk management strategies in obstetrics and midwifery as described in subdivision two of this section. Such risk management strategies courses shall be subject to such standards as the commissioner may prescribe by regulation. In prescribing such regulations, the commissioner may consult with the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, New York State Association of Licensed Midwives and other health care organizations. An eligible physician or licensed midwife who successfully completes such risk management strategies course pursuant to this section shall receive continuing medical education credit and a certificate of completion.
2. Courses on risk management strategies during the prenatal through intrapartum and postpartum periods shall promote evidence-based clinical guidelines and patient safety protocols from both the midwifery and obstetrical perspectives. Options for courses should be appropriate for the respective profession and may include information and education addressing risks associated with the practice of obstetrics and midwif-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00596-01-9
S. 3158 2
ery. Course options may include issues such as: methods to eliminate non-medically indicated (elective) deliveries prior to thirty-nine weeks gestation including the neonatal impact of late preterm births; vaginal births after cesarean births and the applicability to a trial of labor; reductions in cesarean births; monitoring of fetal well-being; management of pain in labor; management of maternal hemorrhage, including placenta accreta, hypertension in pregnancy, including pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, vaginal breech and prevention of shoulder dystocia; and other evidence-based guideline determined issues that improve the care and outcomes of women.
3. Attendance at any course approved by the commissioner pursuant to this section may be in person or through distance learning methods which evince that all participants are in attendance for the duration of the course and able to ask questions of the instructor.
4. Physicians who are board certified or are active candidates for board certification in obstetrics and physicians who are board certified or are eligible for board certification in family practice and provide obstetric services and midwives who are licensed in the state are eligible for a risk management strategies course.
5. The commissioner is authorized to prescribe any rules and regulations necessary to implement this section. In prescribing such rules and regulations, the commissioner shall consider the rules and regulations promulgated by the superintendent of financial services pursuant to subsection (e) of section two thousand three hundred forty-three of the insurance law and may consult with the superintendent of financial services.
§ 2. Subsection (e) of section 2343 of the insurance law, as added by chapter 642 of the laws of 1990, is amended to read as follows:
(e) The superintendent may approve an actuarially appropriate premium reduction for an insured physician or licensed midwife who successfully completes a risk management course or a course authorized by the commissioner of health under section two thousand five hundred six-a of the public health law, which must be approved by the superintendent subject to such standards as the superintendent may prescribe by regulation. In prescribing such regulation the superintendent may consult with the commissioner of health.
§ 3. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a law and shall apply to all insurance policies and contracts issued, renewed, modified or altered on and after such effective date. The commissioner of health and the superintendent of financial services are authorized and directed to adopt, amend, suspend or repeal regulations and take other actions necessary for the implementation of this act prior to such effective date; provided, however, that such adoption, amendment, suspension or repeal of regulations shall not have legal effect until this act takes effect.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law and the insurance law, in relation to premium reduction for obstetric practitioners who complete a risk management strategies course
Purpose
To improve birth outcomes and to promote informed consultation by patients with their physicians and licensed midwives.
Summary of provisions
Section one amends the public health law by adding a new section 2506-a that provides that the commissioner of health shall approve professional education courses for eligible physicians and licensed midwives that cover risk management strategies in obstetrics, including information on potential risks and strategies to fully inform patients of risks associ- ated with their decisions. Such courses shall be subject to standards as the commissioner shall prescribe by regulation. Physicians and licensed midwives who successfully complete a risk reduction course may receive continuing medical education credit and a certificate of completion. Topics to be included in such course are provided. Attendance at any course approved by the commissioner may be in person or through distance learning methods. The commissioner is authorized to prescribe any rules and regulations necessary and shall consult with the Superintendent of Financial Services.
Read the full memo (620 words)
Section two amends section 2343 of the insurance law by amending subsection (e) that provides that the superintendent shall approve an actuarially appropriate premium reduction for an insured physician or licensed midwife who successfully completes a risk management course or a risk management course in obstetrics and midwifery.
Section three provides the effective date.
Justification
In order for a woman to determine the most appropriate mode of delivery in light of her individual circumstances, it is critical that she be fully informed about the risks of each birth option as well as consider- ations regarding options for labor. For example, cesarean delivery has been show to imply a higher risk of maternal death, a longer recovery time and operative complications as well as a higher risk of unexplained stillbirths in subsequent pregnancies and respiratory problems of the newborn. Elective cesarean deliveries (cesareans performed in the absence of medical indication) are considered by many to account for the significant rise in cesarean births.
To promote informed consultation with patients during pregnancy by their physicians and licensed midwives, physicians and licensed midwives should be knowledgeable of current, evidence-based information regarding options for labor and delivery, including potential risks. This bill will provide eligible physicians and licensed midwives with the opportu- nity, through approved professional risk management strategies in obstetrics and midwifery education courses, to stay well-versed in the considerations and concerns that should be taken into account regarding available options while providing a possible insurance premium reduction.
Obstetrics and gynecology is considered among the specialties at highest risk for malpractice claims and most severely affected by rising insur- ance premiums. The increases in medical malpractice premiums discourage licensed midwives from practicing in New York State and have caused many OB-GYNs to retire early, drop high-risk obstetric patients, or to drop obstetric services altogether.
Physicians and licensed midwives will thereby be better able to educate their patients so that they can make informed decisions regarding their labor and delivery. In facilitating greater education of physicians and licensed midwives and their patients, resulting in more informed deci- sion-making by patients, we will enhance our ability to improve birth as well as maternal and neonatal outcomes.
Legislative history
2015-2016: S.4488A-A, Reported from Health to Insurance; 2013-2014: S.1674-A, referred to Health and Finance; 2011-2012: S.5153-B, referred to Health and Finance.
Fiscal implications
None to the State.
Effective date
This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a law and shall apply to all insurance policies and contracts issued, renewed, modified or altered on and after such, effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.