Does Vermont Medicaid Cover Home Birth? 2026 Coverage for Licensed Midwives and Certified Nurse-Midwives
Yes. Vermont Medicaid covers home birth attended by Licensed Midwives (LMs) and Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs). [1] Vermont midwives are providers with Vermont State Medicaid by law, [2] and CNM services are required to be covered by all insurance plans in Vermont, including Medicare and Medicaid. Vermont is one of 14 states whose Medicaid programs include non-nurse midwives as eligible providers. [3]
Vermont has been an early adopter of broad midwifery Medicaid coverage. The state issues a Licensed Midwife credential through the Office of Professional Regulation [4] and Vermont midwives have long been Medicaid providers. [2] Vermont's CNM coverage rule is among the strongest in the country: state law requires all insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, to cover Certified Nurse-Midwifery care. [2] If you're on Vermont Medicaid and planning a home birth, the legal coverage is settled.
On this page
Sources cited (5)
- VT Midwives Association FAQs
- Vitality Home Birth Coverage Notes
- NACPM Medicaid Reimbursement Rates (2025)
- Vermont Statutes Ch. 85
- Social Security Act § 1905(a)(17)
Does Vermont Medicaid cover home birth?
Yes. Vermont Medicaid covers home birth attended by Licensed Midwives and Certified Nurse-Midwives. [1] LMs are credentialed direct-entry midwives in Vermont and have been Medicaid providers for years. [2]
Vermont's coverage of CNM services is unusually strong by statute: state law requires CNM care to be covered by all insurance plans operating in Vermont, including Medicare and Medicaid. [2] The mandate applies across all settings where CNMs are licensed to practice, including planned home birth.
Vermont's Medicaid program is administered by the Department of Vermont Health Access through both fee-for-service Medicaid and managed care. The state's small population makes Vermont's midwifery community tight-knit, with most LMs and CNMs concentrated in the Burlington-Montpelier corridor and the larger towns.
Which midwife credentials does Vermont Medicaid cover?
Vermont recognizes two midwifery credentials.
Licensed Midwives (LMs) are credentialed by the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation under Title 26, Chapter 85 of the Vermont Statutes. [4] Vermont LMs hold the NARM Certified Professional Midwife credential plus Vermont-specific licensure. They specialize in out-of-hospital birth and are Medicaid-eligible providers. [2,3]
Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) are licensed by the Vermont Board of Nursing as advanced practice registered nurses. CNM services are a federal Medicaid mandatory benefit under § 1905(a)(17), [5] and Vermont law additionally mandates CNM coverage by all in-state insurance plans. [2]
Unlicensed midwives cannot bill Vermont Medicaid. The LM credential is the path for direct-entry practice, and the NARM CPM credential is required for licensure.
| CREDENTIAL | VT MEDICAID COVERAGE | PRACTICE SETTING |
|---|---|---|
| Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) | Yes (federal mandate + VT state law) [2,5] | Hospital, birth center, home |
| Licensed Midwife (LM) | Yes (Medicaid provider since longstanding) [2,3] | Birth center or home |
| NARM CPM credential | Required for LM licensure [4] | Bundled with state license |
How does Vermont Medicaid reimburse home birth midwives?
Vermont Medicaid reimburses LMs and CNMs through fee-for-service Medicaid. Vermont uses managed care less extensively than most states; most Medicaid coverage is administered directly through the Department of Vermont Health Access.
For global maternity care (CPT 59400), Vermont's reimbursement falls within standard fee schedule ranges. Vermont's small midwifery community means that practices often accept Medicaid as part of their patient mix, particularly because the state's smaller population makes private-pay-only models harder to sustain.
Recent Vermont reimbursement work has focused on parity between LMs and CNMs and clarification of which specific home birth-related services are billable under each credential. The Vermont Midwives Association is an active voice in this work.
How do you find a Medicaid-accepting midwife in Vermont?
Vermont's home birth midwifery community is small and concentrated in Burlington, Middlebury, Montpelier, and the Mad River Valley. The Vermont Midwives Association (vermontmidwivesassociation.org) and VT Midwives (vtmidwives.org) are useful starting points.
Confirm your Vermont Medicaid status
Vermont Medicaid covers pregnancy services for eligible women. Your enrollment confirmation lists your status.
Search for licensed midwives by region
Home Birth Partners and the Vermont Midwives Association both maintain provider directories. Most LMs and CNMs offering planned home birth serve the Champlain Valley and central Vermont.
Call midwives to confirm panel availability
Vermont's small midwifery community means popular practices fill schedules early. Ask each midwife: "Are you accepting Medicaid clients with my due date in 2026?"
Ask about specific billing experience
Because Vermont's reimbursement workflow has been refined over years, ask each midwife: "Which fees do you bill Vermont Medicaid, and which fees might I owe out of pocket?"
What if no midwife in your area accepts Medicaid?
Vermont's small midwifery community means rural Vermont families sometimes can't find a local Medicaid-accepting midwife. Three options:
Travel to Burlington or central Vermont. Some Vermont families relocate temporarily for late prenatal care and birth, particularly when no local midwife is available.
CNM-staffed hospital care. Vermont hospitals with CNM-staffed maternity programs are fully Medicaid-covered. The University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington has an active CNM service.
Cross-border care. Some Vermont families work with midwives in nearby New Hampshire, New York, or Massachusetts. Out-of-state Medicaid coverage requires reciprocity and may not work for all plans, but it's an option worth asking about if you're near a state border.
For a full guide to home birth midwives in Vermont, including licensing, costs by region, and what to ask before hiring, see our Vermont home birth midwife guide.
Bottom line: Vermont Medicaid covers home birth attended by Licensed Midwives and CNMs, [1,2] and Vermont state law mandates CNM coverage by all insurance plans operating in Vermont. [2] The state's small midwifery community is tight-knit and concentrated in the Burlington area. Use the Vermont Midwives Association directory, confirm panel availability by phone, and consider hospital-based CNM care or cross-border options if no local midwife serves your area.
- Vermont Midwives. Frequently Asked Questions on Insurance and Medicaid Coverage. View source
- Vitality Home Birth. Vermont Home Birth Insurance and Medicaid Coverage. View source
- National Association of Certified Professional Midwives. Medicaid Reimbursement Rates by State. 2025. View source
- Vermont Statutes Online. Title 26, Chapter 85: Midwives. View source
- Social Security Act § 1905(a)(17), 42 U.S.C. § 1396d(a)(17). Mandatory Medicaid coverage of nurse-midwife services. View source
▶ How we research and review this content Editorial standards
Every guide on Home Birth Partners is researched against primary sources (federal regulations, peer-reviewed clinical literature, and state-level licensing boards) and reviewed by a credentialed midwife before publication.
We update articles when source data changes, when state laws are revised, or at minimum every 12 months. The "Last reviewed" date in the byline reflects the most recent review.
If you spot an error or have a primary source we should add, email [email protected].