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valancystirlingFrom http://cfmidwifery.org/states/
Washington
Certified Nurse Midwives and Licensed Midwives are legal in Washington State.
There are two types of state-recognized midwives in Washington - Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM) and Licensed Midwives (LM). The Licensed Midwives are direct-entry. There are many free-standing birth centers, staffed largely by the LMs. Home birth is legal, and is reimbursed by Medicaid, as well as many other insurers. Licensed Midwives can get malpractice insurance currently through a state-mandated JUA, and our LMs are often offered contracts for preferred provider status with major insurers.
from http://www.seattlemidwifery.org/action_progress.htm :
LICENSED MIDWIVES IN WASHINGTON STATE
A number of recent policy changes have increased access to midwifery care in Washington State. Medicaid covers doula and midwifery care in Washington. State law now requires that Washington insurance companies contract with licensed midwives and that women can have access to midwifery care without first seeing a physician for referral. Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, the oldest health management organization in the state and a standard setter since it was first formed in the 1950s, now incorporates the services of licensed midwives, including coverage for birth center and home births. Seattle Midwifery School's program has recently undergone major revisions that open it to a wide range of students who were previously unable to access midwifery education.
1917 midwifery law adopted
1978 Seattle Midwifery School founded
1980 University of Washington Health Policy Analysis Program publishes comprehensive and favorable report on “Midwifery Outside of the Nursing Profession” citing the existence of the Seattle Midwifery School as one of the reasons an update of the 1917 law was under consideration
1981 midwifery law revised, contemporary international standards incorporated
1983 Midwives Association of Washington State (MAWS) founded
1988 Washington Department of Social and Health Services recommends increased utilization of midwives in state maternity care
1989 Licensed midwives eligible for State Health Professional Scholarship Program
1993 Legislature creates Joint Underwriting Association to provide liability insurance
1993 “Every category of provider” law requires Washington health insurance carriers to include licensed midwives
1994 State Health Personnel Resource Plan calls for increased utilization of licensed midwives
1995 Office of Insurance Commissioner invites Licensed Midwives to join dialogue with health care plans and participate in Clinician Workgroup on the Integration of Complementary Medicine
1995 Midwives Association of Washington State, Washington State Medical Association, and Washington Obstetrical Society begin series of meetings to resolve scope of practice and other regulatory issues
1995 Group Health Cooperative becomes the first managed care plan to contract with licensed midwives
1996 MAWS adopts “Practice Guidelines for Risk Screening and Indications for Consultation and Referral”
1996 Quality Midwifery Associates implements quality assurance program for midwives with liability insurance
1997 Medical Assistance Administration Task Force on Home Birth recommends Medicaid change policy to cover home births
1999 licensed midwives in Washington State are featured in PEW Health Professions Commission Report on the Future of Midwifery, which recommends that the midwifery model of care be available to all families
1999 Students at Seattle Midwifery School are eligible for federal financial aid programs
2000 Legislature includes licensed midwives in statute guaranteeing women direct access to the women’s health care provider of their choice (eliminating need for gatekeeper referral)
2000 Swedish Medical Center, Providence campus, in Seattle launches pilot project to provide hospital privileges to licensed midwives; women can plan hospital births with their midwife or may transfer to hospital with their midwife from a planned home or birth center birth.
2001 Medicaid launches pilot project to cover home birth
2001 Seattle public television station, KCTS, presents “Born in the USA,” an independent documentary examining birthing practices, and organizes community outreach program, with sponsorship from Citizens for Midwifery
http://www.washingtonmidwives.org/washington_midwives.shtml
Midwives attend births in a variety of settings, including homes, freestanding birth centers, and hospitals in accordance with the standards of practice of the State of Washington.
Washington State recognizes two separate paths for professional midwives:
Licensed Midwives (LMs) complete an accredited midwifery program and are licensed by the State of Washington.
Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) are educated in the two discliplines of nursing and midwifery, are certified by the American College of Nurse-Midwives, and are licensed by the State of Washington.
Licensed midwives are covered by all Washington-based insurance companies. Many out of state policies also provide coverage for midwifery services. However, your actual coverage may depend on the terms of the plan you subscribe to. It's always best to contact your insurance provider and check if you are covered.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oregon
Direct entry midwifery is legal in Oregon as either unregulated practice or voluntary licensure.
Direct entry midwifery is legal in Oregon as a completely unregulated practice. There is also a voluntary licensure for those who want to recieve medicaid reimbursement Oregon Medical Assistance program (OMAP) and maximize the opportunity for insurance reimbursement; however, in reality access to medicaid payments for fee-for-service maternity care in the home is very limited due to the administrative rules set up by ). Licensure requires successful completion of the North American Registry of Midwives written and skills exam.
Currently about 35 licensed direct-entry midwives (LDM) practice in Oregon. Direct entry midwives are not required to have physician back-up, and are generally treated respectfully when transporting to the hospital. The number of unlicensed midwives is unknown, but far exceeds the number of licensed midwives. It is a felony for unlicensed DEMs to use oxygen and hemorrhagic medicaitons, and to suture.
Out of hospital births constitute approximately 1-2% of all Oregon births, with Direct-entry midwives and Licensed Direct Entry Midwives attending the majority. Certified Nurse Midwives and Naturopathic Physicians also attend a small number of out-of-hospital births. There are five free-standing birth centers staffed by either Direct Entry Midwives (DEMs, CPMs & LDMs) or Naturopathic Physicians or a combination.
http://egov.oregon.gov/OHLA/DEM/DEMlaws_rules.shtml
http://www.oregonmidwifery.org/midwivestypes.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
California
Direct entry midwifery is legal in California, with licensure available since 1997.
Direct entry midwives have attended home births in California for decades. After 17 years of legislative efforts, a licensing law was passed in 1993, and licenses became available in 1997. There are now more than 100 licensed midwives practicing in the state.
California statutes regarding midwifery may be found at www.socalbirth.org/school/midwiferylaw.htm or www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=bpc&group=02001-03000&file=2505-2521
California rules regarding midwifery may be found at ccr.oal.ca.gov/cgi-bin/om_isapi.dll?clientID=183460&infobase=ccr&softpage=Browse_Frame_Pg42
Many CNMs also practice in California; some of them attend home births.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Idaho
The Idaho Midwifery Council is rejuvenating itself and looking at possibly introducing a licensing bill into the legislature next year. We are still divided on the issue and are currently meeting in our regions for discussion and review of a proposed bill.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nevada
Direct entry midwifery is an unregulated practice in Nevada.
The number of direct entry midwives in Nevada is unknown, but midwives practice openly in many of the more heavily populated areas of the state. Direct entry midwives are generally treated respectfully by government and medical agencies and personnel. Ther are no free-standing birth centers or midwifery schools in the state. All direct entry midwives in Nevada have homebirth practices. All CNMs practice in the hospital setting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Arizona
Direct entry midwives are licensed.
Direct entry midwives have been licensed in Arizona since 1978. About 20 licensed midwives are in practice, mostly in home birth practices.
For information about nurse-midwives and their state organizations and schools, contact the American College of Nurse-Midwives at www.midwife.org/ABOUT/chapter.htm or call 202-728-9860.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Utah
The practice of direct entry midwifery in Utah legal.
Direct-entry is now expressly legal in Utah, and may be practiced without a license. Voluntary licenses should be available by early 2006. Requirements are CPM certification, CPR certification, NRP certification, and completion of a pharmacology course.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Montana
Direct entry midwifery is licensed in the state of Montana.
Under a 1991 law, direct entry midwives are licensed by the Alternative Health Care Board, which also licenses Naturopathic Physicians.
Direct entry midwife apprentices also pay an annual licensing fee to work with a preceptor. About 11 midwives, including 8 Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) are currently licensed and attend home births. The NARM written exam (part of the CPM requirement) is used as part of the licensing process.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wyoming
Midwifery is legal in Wyoming according to state statute.
Midwives may attend births in Wyoming, but are restricted from practicing prenatal or postpartum care.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Colorado
Homebirth has been legal in Colorado since 1993.
Midwifery is legal by registration in Colorado. Applicants are required to prove educational requirements and take the NARM exam.
Colorado law permits Registered Direct Entry Midwives to attend homebirths and to provide prenatal care to those women who meet risk assessment criteria. Midwives are also allowed to attend VBAC births.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New Mexico
Midwives are licensed in the state of New Mexico.
The practice of midwifery is licensed and regulated through the Department of Health in New Mexico. The state utilizes the NARM exam.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
North Dakota
Check Later
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
South Dakota
Currently in South Dakota direct-entry midwifery is neither defined nor protected by law.
Nothing in South Dakota law definitively addresses the legal status of direct entry midwives. However, the South Dakota Board of Nursing and the South Dakota Medical and Osteopathic Board believe that the institution of the CNM certification law in the 1970s made direct entry midwifery illegal. On that basis they have threatened every direct entry midwife, and virtually all have either quit practicing or moved to another state.
As of 2003 South Dakota has had two midwives charged, convicted, and jailed for practicing as a CNM without a licence. So we have moved from threats to reality.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nebraska
Currently no statutes governing the practice of non-nurse midwifery in Nebraska.
No statutes governing the practice of non-nurse midwifery currently on the books in Nebraska. Previous attempts to recognize the practice of non-nurse midwifery failed in the Health and Human Services Committee of the State Legislature.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kansas
Midwifery in Kansas is legal.
In March of 1996 the Kansas Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of Michelle Ruebke and the practice of midwifery stating that "midwifery is separate and distinct from the practice of medicine." The court generously referred to "the historically separate practice of midwifery" and it's use of "traditional and timehonored techniques" as "not the practice of medicine or surgery even if some of these techniques fit within the technical definition of the practice of medicine or surgery." Additionally, the court wisely pointed out, "In their ordinary usage, the terms in KSA 652802(a) used to define the healing arts clearly and unequivocally focus on pathologies and abnormal human conditions. Pregnancy and childbirth are neither pathologies nor abnormalities." Way to go Kansas Supreme Court!
There are a number of midwives in Kansas working in various settings: homes, birth center and hospital. Doulas and childbirth educators are also practicing in the state.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oklahoma
Please refer to the Legal Status Chart
In progress. For more information (or to provide information), please contact CfM at info@cfmidwifery.org .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Texas
Texas direct entry midwives must be "documented" according to the Texas Midiwfery Act.
Direct entry midwifery is done through apprenticeship and approved courses. The midwives must also pass the NARM exam.
A current list of documented midwives in Texas can be found through the Texas Department of Health website at www.tdh.state.tx.us/hcqs/plc/Midwif.htm .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alaska
Direct entry midwives are licensed and practice in homes and birth centers.
Direct entry midwives are licensed and practice in homes and birth centers. The law that permits direct entry midwives to practice was extended in April 1999, granting CDM licenses (Certified Direct-entry Midwife) and uses the NARM exam as part of the credential process. There are some restrictions to the care that direct entry midwives can provide, for instance, a CDM cannot assist a woman with a prior C-Section.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hawaii
Direct Entry Midwives (DEMs) are legal by statute, but licensure is unavailable.
Direct Entry Midwives (DEMs) are legal by statute, but licensure is unavailable. CPM with NARM exam is not used. No MEAC accredited sSchools of midwifery. No Medicaid reimbursement.
Washington
Certified Nurse Midwives and Licensed Midwives are legal in Washington State.
There are two types of state-recognized midwives in Washington - Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM) and Licensed Midwives (LM). The Licensed Midwives are direct-entry. There are many free-standing birth centers, staffed largely by the LMs. Home birth is legal, and is reimbursed by Medicaid, as well as many other insurers. Licensed Midwives can get malpractice insurance currently through a state-mandated JUA, and our LMs are often offered contracts for preferred provider status with major insurers.
from http://www.seattlemidwifery.org/action_progress.htm :
LICENSED MIDWIVES IN WASHINGTON STATE
A number of recent policy changes have increased access to midwifery care in Washington State. Medicaid covers doula and midwifery care in Washington. State law now requires that Washington insurance companies contract with licensed midwives and that women can have access to midwifery care without first seeing a physician for referral. Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, the oldest health management organization in the state and a standard setter since it was first formed in the 1950s, now incorporates the services of licensed midwives, including coverage for birth center and home births. Seattle Midwifery School's program has recently undergone major revisions that open it to a wide range of students who were previously unable to access midwifery education.
1917 midwifery law adopted
1978 Seattle Midwifery School founded
1980 University of Washington Health Policy Analysis Program publishes comprehensive and favorable report on “Midwifery Outside of the Nursing Profession” citing the existence of the Seattle Midwifery School as one of the reasons an update of the 1917 law was under consideration
1981 midwifery law revised, contemporary international standards incorporated
1983 Midwives Association of Washington State (MAWS) founded
1988 Washington Department of Social and Health Services recommends increased utilization of midwives in state maternity care
1989 Licensed midwives eligible for State Health Professional Scholarship Program
1993 Legislature creates Joint Underwriting Association to provide liability insurance
1993 “Every category of provider” law requires Washington health insurance carriers to include licensed midwives
1994 State Health Personnel Resource Plan calls for increased utilization of licensed midwives
1995 Office of Insurance Commissioner invites Licensed Midwives to join dialogue with health care plans and participate in Clinician Workgroup on the Integration of Complementary Medicine
1995 Midwives Association of Washington State, Washington State Medical Association, and Washington Obstetrical Society begin series of meetings to resolve scope of practice and other regulatory issues
1995 Group Health Cooperative becomes the first managed care plan to contract with licensed midwives
1996 MAWS adopts “Practice Guidelines for Risk Screening and Indications for Consultation and Referral”
1996 Quality Midwifery Associates implements quality assurance program for midwives with liability insurance
1997 Medical Assistance Administration Task Force on Home Birth recommends Medicaid change policy to cover home births
1999 licensed midwives in Washington State are featured in PEW Health Professions Commission Report on the Future of Midwifery, which recommends that the midwifery model of care be available to all families
1999 Students at Seattle Midwifery School are eligible for federal financial aid programs
2000 Legislature includes licensed midwives in statute guaranteeing women direct access to the women’s health care provider of their choice (eliminating need for gatekeeper referral)
2000 Swedish Medical Center, Providence campus, in Seattle launches pilot project to provide hospital privileges to licensed midwives; women can plan hospital births with their midwife or may transfer to hospital with their midwife from a planned home or birth center birth.
2001 Medicaid launches pilot project to cover home birth
2001 Seattle public television station, KCTS, presents “Born in the USA,” an independent documentary examining birthing practices, and organizes community outreach program, with sponsorship from Citizens for Midwifery
http://www.washingtonmidwives.org/washington_midwives.shtml
Midwives attend births in a variety of settings, including homes, freestanding birth centers, and hospitals in accordance with the standards of practice of the State of Washington.
Washington State recognizes two separate paths for professional midwives:
Licensed Midwives (LMs) complete an accredited midwifery program and are licensed by the State of Washington.
Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) are educated in the two discliplines of nursing and midwifery, are certified by the American College of Nurse-Midwives, and are licensed by the State of Washington.
Licensed midwives are covered by all Washington-based insurance companies. Many out of state policies also provide coverage for midwifery services. However, your actual coverage may depend on the terms of the plan you subscribe to. It's always best to contact your insurance provider and check if you are covered.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oregon
Direct entry midwifery is legal in Oregon as either unregulated practice or voluntary licensure.
Direct entry midwifery is legal in Oregon as a completely unregulated practice. There is also a voluntary licensure for those who want to recieve medicaid reimbursement Oregon Medical Assistance program (OMAP) and maximize the opportunity for insurance reimbursement; however, in reality access to medicaid payments for fee-for-service maternity care in the home is very limited due to the administrative rules set up by ). Licensure requires successful completion of the North American Registry of Midwives written and skills exam.
Currently about 35 licensed direct-entry midwives (LDM) practice in Oregon. Direct entry midwives are not required to have physician back-up, and are generally treated respectfully when transporting to the hospital. The number of unlicensed midwives is unknown, but far exceeds the number of licensed midwives. It is a felony for unlicensed DEMs to use oxygen and hemorrhagic medicaitons, and to suture.
Out of hospital births constitute approximately 1-2% of all Oregon births, with Direct-entry midwives and Licensed Direct Entry Midwives attending the majority. Certified Nurse Midwives and Naturopathic Physicians also attend a small number of out-of-hospital births. There are five free-standing birth centers staffed by either Direct Entry Midwives (DEMs, CPMs & LDMs) or Naturopathic Physicians or a combination.
http://egov.oregon.gov/OHLA/DEM/DEMlaws_rules.shtml
http://www.oregonmidwifery.org/midwivestypes.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
California
Direct entry midwifery is legal in California, with licensure available since 1997.
Direct entry midwives have attended home births in California for decades. After 17 years of legislative efforts, a licensing law was passed in 1993, and licenses became available in 1997. There are now more than 100 licensed midwives practicing in the state.
California statutes regarding midwifery may be found at www.socalbirth.org/school/midwiferylaw.htm or www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=bpc&group=02001-03000&file=2505-2521
California rules regarding midwifery may be found at ccr.oal.ca.gov/cgi-bin/om_isapi.dll?clientID=183460&infobase=ccr&softpage=Browse_Frame_Pg42
Many CNMs also practice in California; some of them attend home births.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Idaho
The Idaho Midwifery Council is rejuvenating itself and looking at possibly introducing a licensing bill into the legislature next year. We are still divided on the issue and are currently meeting in our regions for discussion and review of a proposed bill.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nevada
Direct entry midwifery is an unregulated practice in Nevada.
The number of direct entry midwives in Nevada is unknown, but midwives practice openly in many of the more heavily populated areas of the state. Direct entry midwives are generally treated respectfully by government and medical agencies and personnel. Ther are no free-standing birth centers or midwifery schools in the state. All direct entry midwives in Nevada have homebirth practices. All CNMs practice in the hospital setting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Arizona
Direct entry midwives are licensed.
Direct entry midwives have been licensed in Arizona since 1978. About 20 licensed midwives are in practice, mostly in home birth practices.
For information about nurse-midwives and their state organizations and schools, contact the American College of Nurse-Midwives at www.midwife.org/ABOUT/chapter.htm or call 202-728-9860.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Utah
The practice of direct entry midwifery in Utah legal.
Direct-entry is now expressly legal in Utah, and may be practiced without a license. Voluntary licenses should be available by early 2006. Requirements are CPM certification, CPR certification, NRP certification, and completion of a pharmacology course.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Montana
Direct entry midwifery is licensed in the state of Montana.
Under a 1991 law, direct entry midwives are licensed by the Alternative Health Care Board, which also licenses Naturopathic Physicians.
Direct entry midwife apprentices also pay an annual licensing fee to work with a preceptor. About 11 midwives, including 8 Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) are currently licensed and attend home births. The NARM written exam (part of the CPM requirement) is used as part of the licensing process.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wyoming
Midwifery is legal in Wyoming according to state statute.
Midwives may attend births in Wyoming, but are restricted from practicing prenatal or postpartum care.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Colorado
Homebirth has been legal in Colorado since 1993.
Midwifery is legal by registration in Colorado. Applicants are required to prove educational requirements and take the NARM exam.
Colorado law permits Registered Direct Entry Midwives to attend homebirths and to provide prenatal care to those women who meet risk assessment criteria. Midwives are also allowed to attend VBAC births.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New Mexico
Midwives are licensed in the state of New Mexico.
The practice of midwifery is licensed and regulated through the Department of Health in New Mexico. The state utilizes the NARM exam.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
North Dakota
Check Later
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
South Dakota
Currently in South Dakota direct-entry midwifery is neither defined nor protected by law.
Nothing in South Dakota law definitively addresses the legal status of direct entry midwives. However, the South Dakota Board of Nursing and the South Dakota Medical and Osteopathic Board believe that the institution of the CNM certification law in the 1970s made direct entry midwifery illegal. On that basis they have threatened every direct entry midwife, and virtually all have either quit practicing or moved to another state.
As of 2003 South Dakota has had two midwives charged, convicted, and jailed for practicing as a CNM without a licence. So we have moved from threats to reality.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nebraska
Currently no statutes governing the practice of non-nurse midwifery in Nebraska.
No statutes governing the practice of non-nurse midwifery currently on the books in Nebraska. Previous attempts to recognize the practice of non-nurse midwifery failed in the Health and Human Services Committee of the State Legislature.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kansas
Midwifery in Kansas is legal.
In March of 1996 the Kansas Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of Michelle Ruebke and the practice of midwifery stating that "midwifery is separate and distinct from the practice of medicine." The court generously referred to "the historically separate practice of midwifery" and it's use of "traditional and timehonored techniques" as "not the practice of medicine or surgery even if some of these techniques fit within the technical definition of the practice of medicine or surgery." Additionally, the court wisely pointed out, "In their ordinary usage, the terms in KSA 652802(a) used to define the healing arts clearly and unequivocally focus on pathologies and abnormal human conditions. Pregnancy and childbirth are neither pathologies nor abnormalities." Way to go Kansas Supreme Court!
There are a number of midwives in Kansas working in various settings: homes, birth center and hospital. Doulas and childbirth educators are also practicing in the state.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oklahoma
Please refer to the Legal Status Chart
In progress. For more information (or to provide information), please contact CfM at info@cfmidwifery.org .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Texas
Texas direct entry midwives must be "documented" according to the Texas Midiwfery Act.
Direct entry midwifery is done through apprenticeship and approved courses. The midwives must also pass the NARM exam.
A current list of documented midwives in Texas can be found through the Texas Department of Health website at www.tdh.state.tx.us/hcqs/plc/Midwif.htm .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alaska
Direct entry midwives are licensed and practice in homes and birth centers.
Direct entry midwives are licensed and practice in homes and birth centers. The law that permits direct entry midwives to practice was extended in April 1999, granting CDM licenses (Certified Direct-entry Midwife) and uses the NARM exam as part of the credential process. There are some restrictions to the care that direct entry midwives can provide, for instance, a CDM cannot assist a woman with a prior C-Section.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hawaii
Direct Entry Midwives (DEMs) are legal by statute, but licensure is unavailable.
Direct Entry Midwives (DEMs) are legal by statute, but licensure is unavailable. CPM with NARM exam is not used. No MEAC accredited sSchools of midwifery. No Medicaid reimbursement.
