2024 Omnibus Midwifery and Maternal Health Law in Massachusetts 

On August 15, 2024, the Massachusetts Legislature passed the bill H.4999, An Act promoting access to midwifery care and out-of-hospital birth options, a “Momnibus” package of legislation that expands access to midwifery care, birth centers, home births, and much more. After unanimous votes in the House (June 20) and the Senate (July 30), the conference committee combined the two versions into a final compromise bill that has now been passed. The bill was signed into law on August 23 with a ceremonial signing event on August 26 by Governor Maura Healey.

Massachusetts families can look forward to greater access to midwifery care and out-of-hospital birth options at home or in birth centers.

The bill is excellent, and the result of so much hard work from advocates, legislators, and legislative staff. This would not have happened without all of you, making your voices heard, sharing your stories, spreading the word, educating legislators, and advocating for the best possible bill. Beacon Hill really heard us when we said: “Midwives save lives,” and this labor of love has resulted in meaningful change that will impact families for generations.

Midwifery components of the bill:

• License certified professional midwives (CPMs), protecting autonomous practice and establishing a board of midwifery

• Require MassHealth to cover CPM care

• Require MassHealth to reimburse nurse midwives equitably (100% of what physician rate would be)

• Update state birth center regulations

• Allow CPMs and CNMs to staff and lead birth centers

In addition to midwives and birth centers, the bill expands access to postpartum mental health screenings and creates a grant program for community based maternal mental health support. The bill also has provisions for a MassHealth postpartum home visiting program, doula access, lactation consultant licensure, and more.

“Maternal health bill passed on Beacon Hill could change the game ‘for generations’” (WGBH)

“State lawmakers agree on maternal health bill” (WBUR)

“Mass. Legislature votes to expand access to midwives, improve maternal health care” (Boston Globe)

Just before the vote: “Massachusetts will have a path to more midwives and birth centers — if lawmakers can agree” (WGBH)

Check out our new implementation tracker. (Launched March 2025)

Legislative leaders

The landmark 2024 Omnibus Maternal Health Law passed the House and Senate with unanimous votes last summer. We are grateful for the support of every legislator who voted in favor, who cosponsored a bill, and who supported their colleagues.

We especially want to recognize legislators who played key roles in shaping and shepherding the phenomenal, game-changing, and life-saving 2024 Omnibus Maternal Health Law. These legislators filed bills that became part of the omnibus, shepherded key legislation through their committees, and served on the conference committee that brought the bill over the finish line. On June 10, 2025, Bay State Birth Coalition and the Mind the Gap Massachusetts Coalition presented Maternal Health Champion awards to each of these 28 Massachusetts state legislators.

Senator Liz Miranda: Lead filer of An Act Relative to Birthing Justice and bills for perinatal mental health, fetal and infant mortality review, and Medicaid coverage of doula care, and the Conference Committee

Representative Marjorie Decker: Lead filer of the Omnibus Maternal Health Bill as Public Health Committee Chair, and bills for postpartum home visiting, breastfeeding care, and Maternal Mortality Review, and member of the Conference Committee

Senator Becca Rausch: Lead filer of An Act promoting access to midwifery care and out-of-hospital birth options; An Act relative to pediatric care appointments

Representative Kay Khan: Lead filer of An Act promoting access to midwifery care and out-of-hospital birth options; An Act to increase access to nurse-midwifery services

Representative Brandy Fluker Reid: Lead filer of bills for access to midwifery care and out-of-hospital birth, and perinatal mental health

Senator Jo Comerford: Lead filer of An Act updating the regulations governing licensed birth centers in Massachusetts

Representative Manny Cruz: Lead filer of An Act updating the regulations governing licensed birth centers in Massachusetts

Senator Brendan Crighton: Lead filer of An Act to increase access to nurse-midwifery services

Senator Julian Cyr: Public Health Committee Chair

Senator Cindy Friedman: Member of the Conference Committee and filed language expanding postpartum depression screenings

Senator Joan Lovely: Lead filer of bills for postpartum home visiting and paid pregnancy loss leave

Senator Patrick O'Connor: Member of the Conference Committee and lead filer of bill expanding access to human donor milk

Senator John Velis: Advanced perinatal mental health legislation as Chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery

Representative Jamie Zahlaway Belsito: Lead filer of An Act establishing a maternal mental health equity grant programRepresentative Kimberly Ferguson: Conference Committee Member

Representative Carole Fiola: Lead filer of An Act relative to postpartum depression screenings

Representative Sean Garballey: Lead filer of An Act relative to pediatric care appointments

Representative Danielle Gregoire: Lead filer of An Act relative to human donor milk coverage

Representative Pat Haddad: Lead filer of An Act relative to conducting fetal and infant mortality review

Representative Sally Kerans: Lead filer of An Act establishing a maternal mental health equity grant program

Representative Meg Kilcoyne: Leadership on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy screening

Representative Michael Kushmerek: Lead filer of An Act establishing a maternal mental health equity grant program

Representative Adrian Madaro: Advanced perinatal mental health legislation as Chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery

Representative Michael Moran: Conference Committee Member

Representative James O'Day: Leadership on Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder screening and awareness

Representative Lindsay Sabadosa: Lead filer of bills for pregnancy loss awareness, paid pregnancy loss leave, and Medicaid coverage for doula services

Representative Chynah Tyler: Co-filer of An Act updating the regulations governing licensed birth centers and Lead filer of An Act increasing access to maternal postpartum home visiting services

Representative Chris Worrell: Advocate for maternal health equity including your work on Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review