On March 20, 2021 Governor Northam signed HB 1953/SB1320 into law making Virginia the 8th state in the nation and the first in the south to license Certified Midwives! We can really shout Virginia is for Midwives!
On March 23, 2021 Governor Northam signed HB1817 into law! As of July 1, 2021, CNMs will be able to practice according to education and national certification after completing 1,000 hours in consultation with a physician or CNM.
Check out the Professional Resources page for information about implementation.
UPDATE February 13, 2021:
1. HB 1817 passed the House of Delegates 94-5 on 2/1/21 and crossed over to the Senate this week. It was heard in Senate Ed and Health and Passed the full committee 12-3 on 2/11/21. It has advanced to the full Senate and is expected to have the final vote on Monday 2/15/21!
TAKE ACTION HERE: https://www.votervoice.net/ACN...
Follow the link, send a note to your Senator, then SHARE on social media and encourage others to do the same.
2. HB 1953 and SB 1320 to License Certified Midwives continue to pass their houses unopposed and have crossed over. HB 1953 was referred to Senate Finance and Appropriations and SB 1320 was referred to House Appropriations. This is the same pathway that each bill took in their respective houses of origin. They are anticipated to continue to passage!
TAKE ACTION HERE: https://www.votervoice.net/ACN...
Follow the link, send a note to your Senator and Delegate and urge their continued support of these bills. Then, SHARE on social media and encourage others to do the same.
Legislative priorities for 2021
Click here to download this PDF
For questions related to current and up-coming legislation, contact Katie Page, CNM, VA ACNM President, 434-944-6937 Nichole Wardlaw, CNM, Affiliate Legislative Chair, 843-860-6971 or Julianne Condrey, Affiliate Legislative Liaison
Communicating with Legislators: How to’s
- Click here for another great video on Midwifery Advocacy. It was made by the lobbyist for our sisters in the Virginia Midwives Alliance and has helpful information for ALL Virginia Midwives!
- Contact your national legislators to co-sponsor and support legislation!
Resources to Advocate for Midwifery-Led Care
- ACNM Position Statement on Independent Midwifery Practice Independent should not be interpreted to mean alone and the goal of collaboration is to share in care within each professional's scope of practice.
- ACOG Collaboration in Practice: Implementing Team Based Care Toolkit is a resource created by the task force on collaborative practice and was endorsed by ACNM, AAFP, AAPA, AANP, AWHONN, ACOOG, ACP and others that gives guidance on how to facilitate team-based care in various settings, institutions, and states. It explicitly discusses the need to remove state practice barriers to independent practice .
- ACOG Joint Statement on Practice Relations Between OBGYNs and CNMs/CMs is a joint statement by ACOG and ACNM that affirms that CNMs/CMs are experts in our field and are educated, trained, and licensed independent providers who collaborate based on the needs of the patient.
- AWHONN Position Statement on Midwifery Practice affirms that CNMs and CMs collaborate with appropriate health care professionals and refer women or newborns to specialists as may be needed for care beyond the midwife's scope of practice.
- HHS Released their Action Plan to Improve Maternal Health. This plan specifically includes reducing barriers to full-practice authority in all states and includes funding for midwifery education and guidance for reimbursement for midwifery care under CMS. Information from ACNM on this initiative can be found here.
- ACNM Advocacy Links
- BirthTools.org
- Cost of Having a Baby Report provides compelling financial evidence for the need to support midwifery-led care as a significant catalyst of economic stewardship of health care spending.
- March of Dimes (Preterm Birth report card)
- AWHONN Perinatal Quality Measures Process The actions of nurses have a significant impact on patient outcomes; therefore, a vital component of improving health care is to measure the quality of nursing care. This resource links to Women's Health and Perinatal Nursing Care Quality (NCQ) measures by The Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN).
- Nursing Quality Measurement (AWHONN) Link to PDF download of AWHONN's position statement on nurse-sensitive quality. These are currently the recommended perinatal quality indicators proposed for adoption by the National Quality Forum Perinatal Measures.
- Quality Patient Care in Labor and Delivery: A Call to Action Link to the PDF white paper developed by SMFM, ACOG, ACOOG, AAFP, ACNM, AAP, and AWHONN supporting normal physiologic birth and patient-centered care.
- Transforming Communication and Safety Culture in Intrapartum Care: A Multi-Organization Blueprint Link to PDF download from the Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health.
- www.safehealthcareforeverywoma... Link to website developed by the Council on Patient Safety in Women's Health Care, who's mission is to continually improve patient safety in women’s health care through multidisciplinary collaboration that drives culture change.
- Click to view additional resources available in the Framework for Quality Improvement Resource Toolbox, or search our resource library by clicking here.
If you would like more information regarding legislative activities, please contact
Nichole Wardlaw, CNM, FACNM or Julianne Condrey, Government Relations