PA: Review panel concerned about new nurse midwife drug rules

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A state regulatory review panel says proposed rules would grant nurse midwives new authority to write prescriptions could limit their ability to practice in Pennsylvania.

The Independent Regulatory Review Commission says a draft of the rules appears to restrict the types of physicians with whom midwives can work. But a spokeswoman for the agency that oversees professional licensing says that isn’t the board’s intent.

Current regulations say midwives can practice in Pennsylvania in conjunction with either a medical doctor or an osteopathic doctor. Both types of physicians have similar education and training, but are licensed by separate boards.

The proposed regulations would define “midwife” as someone licensed to practice in collaboration with a doctor licensed by the medical board only.

Department of State spokeswoman Leslie Amoros says that will be corrected when a final version of the rules is drafted.

February 29, 2008 | Filed Under Politics | Leave a Comment 

Missouri Supreme Court to hear Midwives Law appeal

Court grants motion by coalition of midwife advocates to file a ‘friend of the court’ brief for Mar. 5 hearing

Jefferson City – The Missouri Supreme Court will hear arguments to reconsider the permanent injunction on the state’s new midwifery law at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 5 at the Cole County Courthouse, 301 E High Street. A coalition of state and national midwife supporters, midwives and home birth families, led by Friends of Missouri Midwives (FOMM) and mobilized for the appeals process, has learned that the Court has granted their motion to file an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief, submitted by:

The amicus brief submitted by the coalition supports the lifting of the midwives law injunction and makes the case that increasing access to trained and qualified Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) and out-of-hospital birth is beneficial to Missouri citizens. In seeking to provide such access, Missouri is following the wisdom of a growing number of states recognizing the benefit of authorizing CPMs, who provide safe and high quality care, to practice. Read more

February 29, 2008 | Filed Under Home Birth, Midwives/Midwifery, Politics | Leave a Comment 

Idaho: House committee passes midwife licensing bill

There is still quite a bit of debate yet to come, but the bill to license midwives in Idaho is well underway.  From the Olympian Online:

BOISE, Idaho — A bill that would create a voluntary midwife licensing system and allow those who secure licenses to administer certain medications passed a House committee on Thursday.

The House Health and Welfare Committee voted 9-3 to approve the proposal after sitting through 10 hours of sometimes emotional testimony during two hearings over the past week.

Doctors and nurses have opposed the move, saying midwives don’t have the training or equipment to save a mother or child if something goes wrong in a home birth setting.

Proponents say midwives have provided safe birthing assistance for centuries and that expanding their privileges when it comes to dispensing medications, including intravenous fluids, painkillers and emergency oxygen, will boost the value of their services. They say this will especially help people in less-populated areas around the state. Read more

February 29, 2008 | Filed Under Home Birth, Politics | Leave a Comment 

Alabama’s Big Push for Midwives: Rally today

Alabama midwife advocates will rally with a march beginning at 11:30 a.m. today in the parking lot of Cramton Bowl, 1022 Madison Ave., and ending at the Alabama House of Representatives.

Organizers say the rally’s purpose is to persuade state legislators to establish licensure and regulation for home birth midwives in Alabama, already in place in 24 states. Once participants reach the State House steps around noon, there will be a brief program, followed by constituents’ visits to legislators.

Rally activities will continue at 7 p.m. today with a screening of the Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein film “The Business of Being Born,” followed by a Q&A session with members of the Alabama Birth Coalition at the Capri Theatre, 1045 E Fairview Ave.

In May 2007, the House Health Committee defeated a bill that would have set up a process to register and license midwives. It was at least the third time the bill, sponsored by Rep. Laura Hall, D-Huntsville, has been considered in the Legislature in recent years.

Today’s event is the second annual rally for this cause. Alabama is one of 10 states that prohibit what’s called direct-entry midwifery, which allows someone other than a nurse or doctor to attend a birth outside a hospital, the rally’s organizers say.

For more information, call 205-873-1332.

February 26, 2008 | Filed Under Home Birth, Midwives/Midwifery, Politics | Leave a Comment 

Idaho: Midwives want licensing option

The Big Push for Midwives continues… From the Times-News:

Midwives want licensing option. Doctors, nurses say they lack training

BOISE - Midwives who help in home births asked Idaho lawmakers on Wednesday to create a licensing system that would let them administer medications.

Doctors and nurses oppose the move, saying midwives don’t have the training or equipment to save a mother or child if something goes wrong.

A bill before the House Health and Welfare Committee would create a board that would establish rules for the licensing of midwives.

Proponents say midwives have provided safe birthing assistance for centuries and that expanding their privileges when it comes to dispensing medications, including intravenous fluids, antibiotics, painkillers and emergency oxygen, will boost the value of their services. They say this will especially help people in less-populated areas around the state.

A roughly five-hour hearing on the bill ran too long for a vote, and the panel opted to continue testimony next week before voting on whether to send the bill to the full House. Lawmakers said that 24 states have some form of midwife licensing. Read more

February 24, 2008 | Filed Under Home Birth, Politics | Leave a Comment 

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