Information about Massachusetts Laws and regarding Certified Professional Midwives
This page is for informational purposes. We attempted to make it complete and accurate, though laws, links, regulations, etc. may change over time. Please contact us if you notice any errors or omissions.
2024 Midwifery and Maternal Health Omnibus Law
In August 2025, Governor Maura Healey signed a major “omnibus” maternal health bill into law. This law establishes a pathway to licensure for Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs). The law also allows licensed CPMs (LCPMs) to obtain a permit to use certain prescription medications.
In addition to CPM licensure, the law included a variety of other maternal-health-related policies including changes to birth center regulations, doula access, maternal mental health, lactation support, and more. You can read the entire 2024 law here, though keep in mind this shows the law at a snapshot in time, and further changes can be made to the law by the legislature. (For the current laws, you should reference the Massachusetts General Laws.)
How to find MAssachusetts Laws about CPMs
The 2024 law established a Board of Registration in Midwifery to oversee CPM licensure, and also added CPMs to other relevant laws.
The Board of Registration in Midwifery and its purview for licensing and regulating CPMs is established by Massachusetts General Law (MGL) Chapter 13 Section 110 and Chapter 112 Sections 290 through 297.
MGL Chapter 112 Sections 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297 (you can click on each link or use the “next” and previous” buttons on the Massachusetts General Laws web site to navigate through the sections.)
Note: A process for obtaining a CPM license and applicable regulations are not yet established as of October 2025. (The Board of Midwifery is actively developing these regulations, which will then go through administrative and legal review steps before going to a public comment period and hearing.)
Authority of licensed CPMs to utilize prescription medications is part of the Controlled Substances Act (MGL Chapter 94C).
MGL Chapter 94C Section 7 scroll down to subsection (j)
Note: The process for CPMs to obtain a controlled substances permit are not yet established as of October 2025. (The Department of Public Health is actively developing this process which is expected to be completed in time to align with the issuance of temporary CPM licenses.)
MassHealth (Medicaid) is required to cover midwifery services provided by a licensed certified professional midwife regardless of the site of services. Note that there will be additional MassHealth regulations, enrollments, and rate setting that will apply.
MGL Chapter 118E Section 10A (mandate)
Note: Processes and regulations for MassHealth coverage of services provided by CPMs are not yet established as of October 2025. (CPM licensure and regulation must be fully implemented by the Board of Midwifery and the Commonwealth before MassHealth can establish these processes and implement coverage.)
Board of Registration in Midwifery
For more about the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Midwifery and CPM regulations, see Midwifery Board.
Birth Centers
Regulations to be licensed as a birth center in Massachusetts are in 105 CMR 140 Licensure of Clinics. There are general regulations in 105 CMR 140 apply to all clinics, including birth centers, with additional birth-center-specific regulations in sections sections 901-911.
MassHealth (Medicaid) regulations and rates for coverage of birth center services in Massachusetts: