Access to midwifery for all

Massachusetts’ regressive policies when it comes to midwives are a barrier to our autonomous birthing choices, racial equity and justice, and better health outcomes for birthing people.

Policymakers: See our Midwifery Agenda for Massachusetts, a roadmap to achieving better maternal health outcomes and giving families in Massachusetts a choice about their births.

Bills

Pending legislation in massachusetts for the 2023-2024 session:

New legislation to expand access to midwives, home birth, and birth centers has been filed in Massachusetts for the 2023-2024 legislative session.

H.2209/S.1457, An Act promoting access to midwifery care and out-of-hospital birth options, was filed by Representative Kay Khan, Representative Brandy Fluker Oakley, and Senator Becca Rausch to create a pathway to licensure for certified professional midwives and make their care reimbursable by Medicaid/MassHealth. STATUS: In the Public Health Committee, deadline extended to December 31, 2024

H.3616/S.1335, An Act updating the regulations governing licensed birth centers in Massachusetts, was filed by Representative Manny Cruz, Representative Chynah Tyler, and Senator Jo Comerford to address onerous and outdated birth center regulations. STATUS: In the Public Health Committee, deadline extended to December 31, 2024, however the Healey-Driscoll Administration has directed the Department of Public Health to start updating the regulations now. Stay tuned for updates!

H.1069/S.607, An Act to Increase Access to Nurse-Midwifery Services, sponsored by Rep. Kay Khan, Sen. Brendan Crighton for parity in reimbursement for nurse midwives, who currently get reimbursed at a lower rate than physicians even when providing the exact same services. STATUS: Received a favorable report from the Financial Services Committee on Feb 7, 2024 and sent to the Health Care Financing Committee. In addition, the Healey-Driscoll Administration has directed MassHealth to start updating the reimbursement rates now. Stay tuned for updates!

S.1415, An Act relative to birthing justice in the Commonwealth, was filed by Senator Liz Miranda, and includes language of both the midwifery and birth center bills as well as additional urgently needed policies to improve maternity care and birth outcomes and address longstanding racial inequities. STATUS: In the Public Health Committee, deadline extended to December 31, 2024

Your voice is needed to advocate for these policies to improve maternal health and access to birth options in Massachusetts!


Join us in taking action to expand access to midwives, birth centers, and home birth in Massachusetts. We deserve a better maternal health care system and real birthing choices.

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Current status of midwifery in Massachusetts:

- Bottom 1/3 of states for midwifery integration
- No insurance or Medicaid coverage for most home births
- No state recognition or licensure for the Certified Professional Midwife credential (despite being available in 37 other states!)
- Lack of integration of care across home and hospital birth settings
- Only 1 freestanding birth center statewide (with the closures of Cambridge Birth Center and North Shore Birth Center)

Families and birthing people deserve access to midwives and out-of-hospital birth settings such as home birth and birth centers. Your voice is needed to tell lawmakers to stop blocking progress and let midwifery flourish in Massachusetts!


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