H.1117 / S.784, An Act promoting and enhancing
the sustainability of birth centers and the midwifery workforce

• Hearing: Tuesday, October 14 starting at 10:30 AM 

           (end time TBD, hearing could take many hours, depends on how many
            folks testify on each bill)

• In person: State House room A1
• Virtual: Registrants will receive a Microsoft Teams Link

Hearing details, livestream link, and instructions  how to testify in support of
H.1117/S.784: https://malegislature.gov/Events/Hearings/Detail/5417

For more information on how to submit written testimony in support of midwives. Testimony accepted until October 21, 2025-- contact Emily at Bay State Birth.  for more information about submitting  testimony. 

Bill Overview & Why We Need It!
An Act promoting and enhancing the sustainability of birth centers and the midwifery workforce," (S.784/H.1117)
Sponsored by Senator Joan Lovely, Representative Manny Cruz, and Representative Lindsay Sabadosa

Background:
Maternal health is an urgent issue, and midwifery care is a key solution! Building upon the Midwifery and Maternal Health Omnibus law passed in 2024, this bill seeks to make birth centers, reproductive care access, and the midwifery workforce more accessible and sustainable. 

S.784/H.1117 builds upon new midwife and birth center licensing and regulations passed in 2024 to support sustainability, equitable access, and long-term success for the new services and options that are becoming available for reproductive and maternal care. 

Midwives are health care providers, licensed in Massachusetts to provide reproductive services, perinatal care, and newborn care. Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) primarily attend births in community settings (i.e., homes and freestanding birth centers). Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs) primarily attend births in the hospital setting, and a small number provide care in community birth settings. CPMs and CNMs can also provide a range of maternal and reproductive care in community health centers, and other clinical settings.

The Bill Will:

• Require sustainable insurance reimbursement rates for midwifery care and birth centers

• Require reimbursement parity for CPMs from all types of insurance and Medicaid, (Parity meaning reimbursing at the same level for the same service when provided by a midwife compared to physician)
• Require reimbursement parity for CNMs - for private payer insurance, (Medicaid parity for CNMs has already gone into effect as part of the 2024 law)
• Require reimbursement parity for birth centers, equivalent to hospital facility fees - all types of insurance and Medicaid

• Create a fund to support midwifery workforce development

• Midwifery education for CPMs - Scholarships, Tuition, Living expenses during clinical training, Focus on equity
• Student loan forgiveness program - CPMs and CNMs
• Midwifery workforce retention programs - Mental health, Burnout prevention, CPMs and CNMs

Why this is so important:

• Midwifery has been recognized as a key solution to improving maternal health outcomes, reducing racial inequities, and increasing access to maternal and reproductive care in Massachusetts (by the Health Policy Commission, Commission on Racial Inequities in Maternal Health, the Governor, and the Legislature).
• Midwives and birth centers are a critical component of our maternal health system and access to reproductive care and birth options.
• The 2024 midwifery and maternal health omnibus law creates new opportunities to open freestanding birth centers and become a licensed midwife in Massachusetts. This new bill promotes financial sustainability for birth centers and the midwifery workforce needed for birth centers (as well as hospitals, homes, and other clinical settings).

• Reimbursement parity for all categories of midwife licensed in Massachusetts, and for birth centers, is critical to ensuring the sustainable operation of birth centers and midwifery practices, which are often small businesses or nonprofits.
• Investments in midwifery education and workforce development will allow Massachusetts to build the workforce needed as birth centers scale up, and to meet the increasing demand for midwifery care.

• Without the measures in this bill, birth centers, midwifery practices, and health systems will continue to struggle to maintain sufficient midwife staffing and will not be able to meet the demand for midwifery care.
• Having greater access to midwifery and freestanding birth centers in our state promotes healthy families, racial justice, reproductive justice, and bodily autonomy.
• We want a thriving, growing, and diverse midwifery workforce and sustainable birth centers in communities across the state. This legislation takes an important step to make that possible!

Raise Your Voice 

• Submit written testimony 
• Contact your state legislators 
• Sign up for Alerts & Updates
• Support Midwifery Licensure 
• Join MA- NACPM