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:

The formal legislative sessions ends July 31, 2024. Let’s get midwifery over the finish line!

APRIL 2024 UPDATE: Two maternal health packages received a favorable report from the Public Health Committee in April. Both bills contain the language of the bill to license certified professional midwives as well as to update the state’s birth center regulations, two of our legislative priorities for the 2023-2024 legislative session.

  • HOUSE BILL H.4566, An Act promoting access to midwifery care and out-of-hospital birth options — Public Health Committee redraft maternal health package led by Chair Marjorie Decker. Includes our priority bills to license certified professional midwives and update birth center regulations, along with additional maternal health policies.

  • SENATE BILL S.2734, An Act relative to birthing justice in the Commonwealth — Public Health Committee redraft of Senator Miranda’s maternal health policy omnibus. Includes our priority bills to license certified professional midwives, update birth center regulations, and reimburse certified nurse midwives equitably, along with additional maternal health policies.

Our legislative priorites:

Certified Professional Midwife Licensure: 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: A favorable report from the Public Health Committee in April 2024 as part of a larger omnibus package of maternal health legislation, bills H.4566 and S.2734.

Updating Birth Center Regulations: 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was filed by Representative Manny Cruz, Representative Chynah Tyler, and Senator Jo Comerford to address onerous and outdated birth center regulations.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: A favorable report from the Public Health Committee in April 2024 as part of a larger omnibus package of maternal health legislation, bills H.4566 and S.2734. In addition, the Healey-Driscoll Administration has directed the Department of Public Health to start updating the regulations now. Stay tuned for updates!

Nurse Midwifery Reimbursement Parity: 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. This policy was also included in a larger omnibus package of maternal health legislation, S.2734, reported our favorably from the Public Health Committee in April 2024. In addition, the Healey-Driscoll Administration has directed MassHealth to start updating the reimbursement rates now. Stay tuned for updates!

An Act relative to birthing justice in the Commonwealth, S.1415, was filed by Senator Liz Miranda, and includes language of 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: A favorable report from the Public Health Committee in April 2024 as S.2734.

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.

Subscribe

Get timely news and action alerts about midwifery, birth centers, home birth, and birth justice in Massachusetts.
* indicates required

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!

NEWS

Featured
Maternal Health Organizations Applaud Governor Healey’s Report & Recommendations to Increase Access to Maternal Healthcare
Maternal Health Organizations Applaud Governor Healey’s Report & Recommendations to Increase Access to Maternal Healthcare

American College of Nurse Midwives-MA, Bay State Birth Coalition, and Neighborhood Birth Center Thank Administration For Their Leadership & Urge Quick Implementation of Recommendations

Maternal health practitioners and reproductive rights supporters applaud Governor Healey’s release this week of reports and recommendations regarding the state of maternal health care and essential services in the Commonwealth. The recommendations laid out in the report, if implemented fully, would result in a marked increase in access to maternal health care across Massachusetts. We particularly thank the Administration for prioritizing the following critical recommendations: (1) Updated regulations governing birth centers to better align with national standards; (2) Equitable reimbursement for Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs); and (3) Support for integration of Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) into more pregnancy and birth care settings and coverage for such care in Massachusetts.

Read More →
As Maternal Health Crisis Worsens, Advocates Host a “Rally for Midwives” & Advocacy Day at State House to Call for Expanded Access to Midwifery Care
As Maternal Health Crisis Worsens, Advocates Host a “Rally for Midwives” & Advocacy Day at State House to Call for Expanded Access to Midwifery Care

Massachusetts currently ranks in the bottom third of states for midwife integration. Midwives save lives!

On October 5, maternal health and reproductive equity groups joined together at the State House to advocate for legislation to expand access to midwives in Massachusetts. Approximately one hundred parents, kids, midwives, nurses, students, community leaders, advocates, and legislators gathered for a powerful rally on the State House steps. Afterwards, supporters and lawmakers gathered inside the State House for a presentation and panel discussion on the value and importance of midwifery care.

Co-hosted by Neighborhood Birth Center, Bay State Birth Coalition, ACNM Massachusetts, NACPM Massachusetts, Reproductive Equity Now, MassNOW, ACLU, Our Bodies Ourselves, Mystic Valley Action for Reproductive Justice, City of Boston Office of Women’s Advancement, Birth Equity & Justice Massachusetts, Center for Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice at Tufts Medical School, and the Massachusetts PPD Fund.

Read More →
Budget Update: $1M for birth centers!
budget
Budget Update: $1M for birth centers!
budget

In May, the Massachusetts Senate passed a budget that included unprecedented state funding for birth centers. Senator Liz Miranda’s amendment passed unanimously to provide $1M for the development and operation of nonprofit freestanding birth centers like Neighborhood Birth Center and other community based maternal health organizations. In addition, $150K was allocated to Seven Sisters Birth Center to support their doula program. In August, Governor Maura Healey signed the budget into law.

Read More →
budget
Bills filed to expand access to midwifery care, birth centers, and home births
Bills filed to expand access to midwifery care, birth centers, and home births

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

Everyone in Massachusetts should be able to choose where they give birth and the type of maternity care that is most appropriate for their needs. Unfortunately, our state currently lags the nation when it comes to access to midwives, birth centers, home birth, and integration of care -- models that can reverse our rising maternal mortality and growing racial inequities in birth outcomes. Together, these priority bills will propel Massachusetts to a position of leadership in healthy, equitable access to maternity care and birthing choices. Take action now.

Read More →
Where are the birth centers?
Where are the birth centers?

There is just 1 birth center left in Massachusetts. What happened? What can we do about it?

Read More →