Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Health Care & Wellness Committee
HB 1651
Brief Description: Allowing providers to bill separately for immediate postpartum contraception.
Sponsors: Representatives Thai, Macri, Bateman, Ryu, Berry, Ramel, Duerr, Valdez, Callan, Cody, Davis, Simmons, Bergquist, Kloba, Pollet, Frame, Harris-Talley and Taylor.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Requires health plans to allow providers to bill separately for devices or professional services associated with immediate postpartum contraception.
Hearing Date: 1/13/22
Staff: Jim Morishima (786-7191).
Background:

Most insurers are required to provide coverage for intrauterine devices and contraceptive implants, also known as long-acting reversible contraception (LARC).  The state Medicaid program reimburses for immediate, postpartum LARC insertion if billed separately, as opposed to as part of the global obstetric procedure.  This does not include facility services, which may not be unbundled from a hospital's facility claim.   

Summary of Bill:

For births taking place in a hospital or birthing center, a health plan, including a health plan offered to public employees, must allow a provider to bill separately for devices, implants, or professional services associated with immediate postpartum contraception and may not consider such devices, implants, or services to be part of any payments for general obstetric procedures.  The requirement applies to plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2023, but does not apply to facility services associated with the contraception. 
 
"Immediate postpartum contraception" is defined as the postpartum insertion of intrauterine devices or contraceptive implants performed before the patient is discharged from the hospital or birthing center and includes the devices or implants themselves. 

Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.