Photo by Michael Davis

Photo by Michael Davis

Legislative News...

 

HB 2163 Midwifery; regulations governing practice thereof.

Matthew J. Lohr


Summary as introduced:

Regulation of the practice of midwifery. Provides that regulations governing the practice of midwifery shall require midwives to disclose to their patients information on health risks associated with home deliveries including but not limited to special risks associated with vaginal birth after a prior C-section, breach births, births by women experiencing high-risk pregnancies, and births of twins or multiples.


http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=091&typ=bil&val=hb2163&Submit2=Go


This billed was killed on January 29, 2008

HB 2167 Midwives, professional; reimbursement of services of those certified.

Matthew J. Lohr

Summary as introduced:

Reimbursement of services of certified professional midwives. Provides that the Board of Medicine and the Department of Medical Assistance Services shall review all regulations, policies, and guidelines to ensure that no reimbursement is made to certified professional midwives providing services in high-risk situations including high-risk home births.

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=091&typ=bil&val=hb2167&Submit2=Go


ACTION ALERT

From Commonwealth Midwives Alliance


Dear Mothers, Midwives, and Birth Choice Advocates-

Some of you may already be aware that there is a critical threat to access to home birth in Virginia. After a mere 3 years of licensure, the scope of practice of Certified Professional Midwives is in jeopardy.

On Thursday, February 21, the Virginia Board of Medicine voted to initiate a review of regulations for Licensed CPMs with a focus on adding specific restrictions on which women/babies will be "allowed" to have a CPM attended home birth. This decision was not based on any evidence of a problem, but on two letters sent to the Board by maternity care providers with no experience in home birth, or knowledge about the CPM credential.

In restricting access to home birth for women who make informed decisions concerning their own health care, the Board of Medicine is supporting a process of eliminating choice for women.

There are many critical points along the way where the voice of the public not only must be heard, but can actually stop this threat in its tracks! Please take action right now and then forward this request to everyone you know who cares about autonomous decision making in health care.

The first step in a NOIRA (Notice Of Intention for Regulatory Action) is for the Board of Medicine to send it to the Governor for approval. Therefore, the Governor needs to hear from the public RIGHT NOW.

Please let him know that, as a citizen of the Commonwealth, you support the practice of midwifery by CPMs and that you are satisfied with the current regulations that allow for autonomous discretion by the midwife and her client regarding acceptance into care.

Address your letter to:

    Office of the Governor Timothy M. Kaine
    Commonwealth of Virginia
    Patrick Henry Building, 3rd Floor
    1111 E. Broad St.
    Richmond, VA 23219
 

Points to make in your letter (please choose one or two of these and then add your own to make it personal):

  • The General Assembly passed the CPM licensing statute in 2005 because women were already choosing to birth at home with or without qualified providers to attend them.

  • The CPM statute specifically states that no women can be forced to see a physician during their care.

  • The current C-section rate in Virginia is 32.91%, as compared to the WHO recommendation of 10-15% and a national average of 31.1%.

  • Forcing women to have a baby in the hospital cannot be done. By restricting the practice of CPMs, the BOM will be re-creating an unsafe situation. Women who want to resist the threat of unnecessary, non evidence-based care will likely once again choose to birth at home without skilled attendants to monitor them and their baby.  Restrictions such as those proposed will essentially be a requirement for CPMs to abandon their clients in specific situations.

    You can view the CPM statute and regulations here:

    CPM Statute

    Regulations

    Please send your letter to the Governor right away. We suggest you also send a copy of your letter to each of your legislators. You can find out who your legislators are by visiting the Virginia Birth PAC website, or visit the Virginia General Assembly website.

    Thank you for your continued support of midwifery and access to care. In three short years some have forgotten what VA families are willing to do to maintain their rights and freedoms.

    For more information on this issue, please join our mailing list or visit the Background Summary.

    Thank you for your continued support and attention-

    Brynne Potter, CPM

    Julia Martin, CPM

    Policy Coordinators - Commonwealth Midwives Alliance

    Background Summary

    At the February 8 meeting of the Midwifery Advisory Board, two letters were included in the agenda for review. These letters were written by Certified Nurse Midwives who were not representing the state chapter. As the Commonwealth Midwives Alliance stated in its letter to the Board of Medicine it is clear that the authors of the letters were misinformed about the specifics of existing regulations that affect the scope of practice of Certified Professional Midwives who are licensed in the Commonwealth to practice midwifery.

    The clear concern of the authors of these letters involves the scope of practice of CPMs and exactly which women are appropriate for home birth. Despite the lack of evidence showing safety concerns for most women seeking VBAC (Vaginal Birth after Cesarean), the authors and members of the Board of Medicine want to restrict CPMs from attending VBAC mothers at home. For more facts on VBAC visit our Facts About Birth section or visit www.ican-online.org

    Copies of these letters can be seen here.

    Commonwealth Midwives Alliance letter to the Board of Medicine can be seen here:

    Birth Matters Virginia response to the VA ACNM chapter can be seen here: [www.birthmattersva.org]

    On Thursday, February 21, the Virginia Board of Medicine voted to initiate a review of regulations for Licensed CPMs with a focus on adding specific restrictions on which women/babies will be ?allowed? to have a CPM attended home birth. Following is a link to the February 21st Board of Medicine minutes as well as a link to the February 8th Midwifery Advisory Board minutes.

    http://www.townhall.state.va.us/L/GetFile.cfm?File=E:\townhall\docroot\Meeting\26\10395\Minutes_DHP_10395_v2.pdf

    http://www.townhall.state.va.us/L/GetFile.cfm?File=E:\townhall\docroot\Meeting\26\10432\Minutes_DHP_10432_v2.pdf

    Next Steps

    This vote by the Board of Medicine will initiate what is called a ?petition for rulemaking?. An outline of the process and a timeline is available at the Virginia Regulatory Townhall website: http://www.townhall.state.va.us/UM/chartpetitionpublic.pdf

    Our understanding is that the process will take longer than the 4-5 month process outlined on the website as the Board of Medicine plans to create an ad-hoc committee to review the request and all public comment before it goes back to the full Board for another vote. We expect the process to take as long as 2 years.

    We need you continued help and attention to this matter. Please stay tuned and do what you can to support our efforts today. Take Action NOW