action alert: July 6-8
Pass midwifery amendments to Economic Development Bill in the House
Members of the Massachusetts House will be voting on an Economic Development Bill on Wednesday, July 8. Contact your State Rep now and urge them to cosponsor two amendments to support the midwifery access in our state.
Amendment #126 Midwife Reimbursement Parity sponsored by Representative Lindsay Sabadosa
Requires MassHealth reimbursement for all licensed midwives at the same rate when providing the same service.
Adds licensed Certified Professional Midwives to the current MassHealth midwifery reimbursement rate established by the 2024 Maternal Health Omnibus Law (putting CPMs at parity with CNMs and physicians for the same services).
Amendment #504 Midwifery Workforce Development Fund sponsored by Representative Marjorie Decker
Creates a new fund to invest in midwifery training and education.
Implements student loan forgiveness opportunities for midwives.
make your voice heard on beacon hill now!
Contact your Rep using the form below. When you enter your address, our form will automatically send your email to the State Representative who represents you in the Massachusetts state legislature. Add a brief personal message to help your email stand out!
Background on these amendments
In 2024, Massachusetts passed a landmark Midwifery and Maternal Health “Momnibus” law to license certified professional midwives, update state birth center regulations, and much, much more. (Read about the 2024 Midwifery and Maternal Health “Momnibus” law.) As implementation of the 2024 law rolls out, Massachusetts families are looking forward to greater access to midwifery care and out-of-hospital birth options at home or in birth centers. In order to ensure the success and sustainability of midwifery and birth centers, more is needed!
We are thrilled to see legislators seeking to build upon this progress with “An Act promoting and enhancing the sustainability of birth centers and the midwifery workforce," (S.3045/H.5016) filed by Senator Joan Lovely, Representative Manny Cruz, and Representative Lindsay Sabadosa. This bill would create a state fund to invest in midwifery education, ensure sustainable insurance reimbursement rates for midwifery practices and birth centers, and more. (Download the fact sheet.)
The bill received a favorable reports from: the Financial Services Committee in the House and Senate; the Health Care Financing Committee in the Senate.
We are advocating for components of this bill to pass as part of the House’s Economic Development Bill.
TIPS:
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