SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5922

                    As of February 27, 1995

Title:  An act relating to midwifery.

Brief Description:  Modifying midwifery regulations.

Sponsors:  Senators Moyer, Wojahn and Winsley.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Health & Long-Term Care:  2/28/95.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE

Staff:  Rhoda Jones (786-7198)

Background:  Licensed midwives who practice independently are required by statute to develop a written plan for consulting with other health care providers, and for providing emergency transportation for an infant or mother to appropriate medical facilities under emergency conditions.  This plan must be submitted to the Secretary of Health annually as part of license renewal.

Summary of Bill:  Midwives are prohibited from undertaking the care of any woman who is at high risk for complications during prenatal, intrapartum or postpartum period. The Medical Care Quality Assurance Commission, with the advice of the Midwifery Advisory Committee, develops a definition of high risk for the purposes of this act.

If a woman becomes high risk under the care of a midwife, she must be transferred to the care of a physician or osteopathic physician. The patient may be returned to the midwife, or both practitioners may agree to comanage her care. The physician is not held liable for complications that occur in or are caused by the pregnancy when the woman is not directly under the physician's care.

Midwives must submit a plan to the Secretary of Health for handling women who become high risk during pregnancy. This plan must also have a signed agreement for emergency back-up.

Education requirements for midwives are expanded to include the ability to identify high risk pregnancies as defined by the Medical Care Quality Assurance Commission.

Patient information supplied by midwives includes information about high risk pregnancies and legal requirements of this condition.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 20, 1995.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.