SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 5163

BYSenate Committee on Human Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senator Wojahn)

Changing provisions relating to midwives.

Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 20, 1987; February 9, 1987

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5163 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Wojahn, Chairman; Stratton, Vice Chairman; Anderson, Deccio, Johnson, Kiskaddon, Kreidler, Tanner.

Senate Staff:Scott Plack (786-7409)

                  April 16, 1987

AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 5, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The Legislative Budget Committee (LBC) conducted a sunset review of the Midwifery Advisory Committee, including those functions of the Department of Licensing relating to midwifery (Chapter 18.50 RCW).  Midwifery is defined as the care of women before, during, and immediately following childbirth.  The review concluded that significant public health and safety risks are associated with the misdiagnosis and mistreatment of many pregnancy related conditions.  The Legislative Budget Committee recommended that the state continue licensure of this profession.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Social and Health Services and the Department of Licensing are directed to conduct a study to analyze birth outcomes by non-licensed practitioners, and to determine the role of non-licensed practitioners in the provision of maternity services in the state.  The results of the study shall be presented to the Legislature in January, 1988.

The Midwifery Advisory Committee is reauthorized.  Vitamin K and RhoGam are added to the statutory list of drugs midwives may use.  The Department of Licensing is directed to establish rules to grant credit toward licensure for documented deliveries and relevant experience of unlicensed midwives or midwives licensed in other states.

The Director of Licensing, after consultation, is directed to issue regulations which authorize licensed midwives to purchase and use legend drugs and devices in addition to those already authorized in statute.

Technical changes are made to the chapter to clearly define a licensed physician.

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: Bob Jacobs, LBC; Don Williams, Pharmacy Board; Cathryn Ferel, Association for Childbirth; Diane Simon, Association for Childbirth; Sandy Wixson, Lay Midwife Association; Peggy Doyle; Martha Butgen, Midwifes Association of Washington; Mike Ryherd, WSMA; Joanne Myers

HOUSE AMENDMENTS:

The Department of Licensing is directed conduct a study to analyze birth outcomes by non-licensed practitioners, and to determine the role of non-licensed practitioners in the provision of maternity services in the state.  The results of this study shall be presented to the Legislature in January, 1989.  Language is deleted which directs the Department of Licensing to adopt rules to provide credit toward the educational requirements for licensure of lay midwives.  The length of the terms of the members of the Midwife Advisory Committee is extended from two to five years.  A technical change is made where a brand name for one of the drugs which midwives may use is replaced by its generic name.

During any biennium, the Department of Licensing may not increase fees for professions with 100 or fewer members by more than $100 or 50 percent, whichever is greater.  The professions affected by this amendment are acupunturists, debt adjusters, midwives and occularists.