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| Boston Parents |
| Public group from Boston, MA |
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It's really important that every single one of you contact your State Senator immediately and ask him/her to support Senate 1251, Establishing a Board of Midwifery and ask him/her to ask Senate leadership to pass the bill quickly. The bill is now in Senate Third Reading (that's all you need to say, it will be understood). It was engrossed in the Senate last session. The lead sponsor is Senator Moore. I have attached the fact sheet that you can forward to your Senator's office. Be sure to leave your name, address, and other contact info. Don't worry about trying to address the MMS arguments - it's just enough that you let your senator know that you want him/her to actively work on getting the bill through. You don't even need to mention MMS opposition, unless asked. Let me know what feedback you get from your state senator's office.
If you do not know who your state senator is go to http://www.wheredoi votema.com/ bal/myelectionin fo.php and type in your address. Go to http://www.mass. gov/legis/ memmenus. htm to get your senator's contact info.
The MMS is going to try to defeat this in the Senate over the next couple of days, so it is imperative you act now!
Mary Ann Hart
Hart Government Relations
617-797-8488
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| Posted by jean on 02/28/2008 08:45 PM
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Massachusetts Coalition for Midwifery
Eastern and Western Massachusetts Chapters, American College of Nurse Midwives
Massachusetts Midwives Alliance
Massachusetts Friends of Midwives
Fact Sheet: Senate 1251 (Moore) and House 2142 (Khan)
An Act Relative to a Board of Registration in Midwifery
Legislative History:
This bill passed the Senate in the 2005-2006 legislative session.
The Purpose of the Bill:
The purpose of this bill is to have the Commonwealth set standards for the practice of midwifery in Massachusetts. The bill creates a Board of Registration of Midwifery, which will regulate the practice of Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs), Certified Midwives (CMs), and Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs).
Current Law:
Currently, the Commonwealth only regulates the practice of CNMs, through the Board of Registration in Nursing. There is no state oversight of CMs and CPMs. Midwives who are not nurses provide midwifery services to women across the state.
Why This Bill is Needed:
This bill is needed to ensure that midwifery care is practiced safely in all settings in Massachusetts, with clear standards set and state oversight by a Board of Registration in Midwifery. The bill articulates a definition of midwifery adopted by the World Health Organization and seeks to improve consumer access to midwifery services.
What This Bill Does:
Establishes state oversight of midwifery through a Board of Registration of Midwifery, which will regulate the practice of CNMs, CMs, and CPMs.
Authorizes the Board and the Department of Public Health (DPH), in consultation with the Board of Midwifery, to promulgate regulations relative to prescriptive authority for CNMs and CMs, and the privilege of obtaining and administering medications necessary for the scope of practice of CNMs, CMs, and CPMs.
Establishes a special committee to coordinate the transfer of the midwifery licensing function of the Board of Registration in Nursing to the Board of Registration in Midwifery.
Who Are the Midwives That Will be Affected by this Bill?
Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs):
Over 400 Certified Nurse Midwives are licensed in Massachusetts. CNMs:
Are currently regulated by the Board of Registration in Nursing.
May practice in any setting, including clinic, private office, hospital, birth center or home.
Receive mandated third party reimbursement, except through HMOs.
Have prescriptive authority, under the Boards of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and DPH, under physician supervision.
Delivered 13.6 % of all babies born in Massachusetts in 1998 (11,064 births).
Practice in 111 practices across the state in 1999, in 2/3 of all hospitals with maternity services, and run 3 birth centers.
Certified Midwives (CMs):
The American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM) has decided that nursing is no longer a pre-requisite to practicing midwifery and will now certify non-nurse graduates of approved schools. There are currently no CMs practicing in Massachusetts because the credential is a new one. However, the CM Credential is approved in New York State and the program there is producing graduates who will eventually come to Massachusetts to practice. Under current law, these qualified midwives cannot be licensed to practice in Massachusetts.
CMs have:
Skills equal to CNMs
Same training plus pre-requisite courses to make up for nursing component
Same level of skill, knowledge, and standards to practice as CNMs
Same required examination that CNMs have to take
Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs):
CPMs are independent practitioners who have met the standards for certification set by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) and are qualified to provide the Midwifery Model of Care. The NARM certification process recognizes multiple routes of entry into midwifery and includes verification of knowledge and skills and the successful completion of both a written examination and skills assessment. The CPM credential requires training in out-of hospital settings. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts does not currently regulate CPM practice. There are approximately a dozen CPMs practicing in Massachusetts and this level of midwife is expected to grow in number in the near future.
What is the Coalition for Midwifery?
Three organizations have joined together to improve the practice of midwifery in Massachusetts:
Eastern and Western Massachusetts Chapters, American College of Nurse Midwives - professional organization of Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) and Certified Midwives (CMs)
Massachusetts Midwives Alliance - professional organization of Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs)
Massachusetts Friends of Midwives (MFOM) - Consumer organization in support of midwifery services for women and their families.
For more information, please call Mary Ann Hart, Hart Government Relations, at 617-864-1996 or mahcamb@aol.com .
3-11-07
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| posted by jean on 02/28/2008 08:46 PM
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