February Policy Updates
The Board of Registration in Midwifery convened for the first time on February 26 when 7 inaugural members were sworn into office. Future meetings will be listed on the Board website and are always open to the public. MA-NACPM will try to give advance notice to our members, but we encourage you to check the website for Webex link information, as well as formal records and documents as they come into existence. The next Board of Registration meeting will be held on March 28 beginning at 10am.
February also brought the first listening sessions, hosted by Greater Springfield Midwifery and Birth Matters Midwifery. In total, more than 20 midwives and student midwives came together to talk about their hopes, concerns, and questions regarding the forthcoming rules and regulations that will govern CPM practice in Massachusetts.
Temporary licensure is expected to go into effect by June 1, 2025. As a reminder, midwives will need to hold an active CPM credential and have completed a MEAC accredited education program or completed a NARM bridge certificate; OR hold an active license in another jurisdiction to be eligible to apply for a MA license come June. We encourage midwives who wish to use the state-to-state reciprocity pathway in their application for MA licensure, to start your neighboring state license application as soon as possible and/or ensure your out of state license is up-to-date.
The Board of Registration in Midwifery convened for the first time on February 26 when 7 inaugural members were sworn into office. Future meetings will be listed on the Board website and are always open to the public. MA-NACPM will try to give advance notice to our members, but we encourage you to check the website for Webex link information, as well as formal records and documents as they come into existence. The next Board of Registration meeting will be held on March 28 beginning at 10am.
February also brought the first listening sessions, hosted by Greater Springfield Midwifery and Birth Matters Midwifery. In total, more than 20 midwives and student midwives came together to talk about their hopes, concerns, and questions regarding the forthcoming rules and regulations that will govern CPM practice in Massachusetts.
Temporary licensure is expected to go into effect by June 1, 2025. As a reminder, midwives will need to hold an active CPM credential and have completed a MEAC accredited education program or completed a NARM bridge certificate; OR hold an active license in another jurisdiction to be eligible to apply for a MA license come June. We encourage midwives who wish to use the state-to-state reciprocity pathway in their application for MA licensure, to start your neighboring state license application as soon as possible and/or ensure your out of state license is up-to-date.
January Policy Updates
January was a difficult and intense month for birth and reproductive health policy and systems. As is the rest of the country, Massachusetts is grappling with confusion and disruption within federal public health funding systems as well as a sudden drop in publicly accessible information. However, the work to improve midwifery integration and CPM integration in the Commonwealth continues. The disruptions in government have caused in delays in notification of Board of Midwifery appointments. MA NACPM will be at the State House on Feb 13th to encourage notification of appointments and allow the Board to meet by the statutory deadline of Feb 21, 2025.
February is expected to be a busy month. Below are some of the key events and actions taking place:
December Policy Updates
The appointment process for establishing the Board of Registration in Midwifery continues to work its way through government processes. NACPM met with the Governor's Board and Commissions team in mid-December. The administration has directed them to prioritize and fast track this particular Board (out of more than 100 Boards and Commission created in 2024).
The Executive Office of Health and Human Services has vetted the DPH recommendations and we expect names to be in front of the Governor in early January. Once appointed, individuals named to the Board will need to complete background checks before being sworn in. Potential appointees are encouraged to keep an eye out for related requests and respond promptly.
The Executive Branch and DPH are feeling confident the Board will be sworn in and have held its first meeting by the February 21st date named in statute.
January was a difficult and intense month for birth and reproductive health policy and systems. As is the rest of the country, Massachusetts is grappling with confusion and disruption within federal public health funding systems as well as a sudden drop in publicly accessible information. However, the work to improve midwifery integration and CPM integration in the Commonwealth continues. The disruptions in government have caused in delays in notification of Board of Midwifery appointments. MA NACPM will be at the State House on Feb 13th to encourage notification of appointments and allow the Board to meet by the statutory deadline of Feb 21, 2025.
February is expected to be a busy month. Below are some of the key events and actions taking place:
- State-wide listening sessions facilitated by MA NACPM to hear midwife priorities and concerns regarding the forthcoming rules and regulations.
- System education events including presentations to MassHealth, Department of Public Health, and local medical residency training cohorts on CPMs, our role in a integrated system for maternal and newborn health, how CPMs use medications, and the full range of care and services for which we deserve reimbursement from insurers.
- The first meeting of the Board of Registration in Midwifery
- Promulgation of the newly updated birth center regulations for Massachusetts. The Public Health Council has formally voted to update the regulations to include Certified Professional Midwives as eligible to serve as the Clinical and/or Administrative Director of a Birth Center as of February 12, 2025!!
December Policy Updates
The appointment process for establishing the Board of Registration in Midwifery continues to work its way through government processes. NACPM met with the Governor's Board and Commissions team in mid-December. The administration has directed them to prioritize and fast track this particular Board (out of more than 100 Boards and Commission created in 2024).
The Executive Office of Health and Human Services has vetted the DPH recommendations and we expect names to be in front of the Governor in early January. Once appointed, individuals named to the Board will need to complete background checks before being sworn in. Potential appointees are encouraged to keep an eye out for related requests and respond promptly.
The Executive Branch and DPH are feeling confident the Board will be sworn in and have held its first meeting by the February 21st date named in statute.
November Policy Updates
As implementation of the August Access to Out-of-Hospital Birth Options laws gets underway here are key dates and information to know:
Gearing up for 2024 - 2026 legislative session:
As implementation of the August Access to Out-of-Hospital Birth Options laws gets underway here are key dates and information to know:
- Announcement of the inaugural members of the Board of Registration in Midwifery is expected any day, and definitely by mid-November.
- Guidance on protocols and improvements in community to hospital transfer is a top priority for the Department of Public Health. NACPM members will be participating in pilot transfer simulation drills this month, alongside Beverly and BIDMC hospitals.
- The Perinatal Division of MassHealth is keen to work with CPMs to establish robust procedures and reimbursement rates for community midwifery care. There is no requirement to carry liability insurance to enroll as a MassHealth provider. Enrollment will not be possible until licensure goes into effect. NACPM is advocating for an intrapartum care without delivery rate to ensure payment for labor care that ends in transfer prior to delivery. We are also providing information on the costs associated with our home based model of care and the need to ensure that rates cover driving/car/mileage expenses.
- Provisional licensure will be available by May 21, 2025. Full rules and regulations will be released by Nov 21, 2025. Licensure for CPMs will become mandatory 1 year following finalization of rules and regs.
Gearing up for 2024 - 2026 legislative session:
- Advocacy coalitions are getting ready to file bills for the coming legislative session. NACPM is pushing to include the following elements to help make implementation of CPM integration a success:
- Public payer rate parity between CPMs and other primary maternity providers
- Earmarked funding for tuition payments and cost of living stipends for CPM students
- Removing state fees that contribute to high costs to starting a birth center
- ....We'll be keeping an ear to the ground and be ready to advocate for additional legislative pieces if we identify items that can be addressed through that lever and need attention as we progress through implementation.