The Department of Health (DOH) certifies, licenses, and regulates heath professions in Washington State. Most of these health professions are governed by a board, commission, or advisory committee which are supported by DOH. Each health profession's scope of practice is defined in law, and must fully cover the costs of its licensing and disciplining activities through fees for licensing, renewal, registration, certification, and examination. All health professions are subject to the Uniform Disciplinary Act (UDA).
A licensed midwife renders medical care for compensation to a woman during prenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum stages, up to the newborn or up to two weeks of age. To be licensed in Washington, a midwife must:
Foreign candidates must present with the application a translation of the foreign certificate or diploma made by and under the seal of the consulate of the country in which the certificate or diploma was issued.
A midwife licensed under this chapter may obtain and administer prophylactic ophthalmic medication, postpartum oxytocic, vitamin K, Rho immune globulin—human, and local anesthetic, and may administer other drugs or medications prescribed by a physician.
A licensed midwife may seek a limited prescriptive license extension and an additional license extension to include medical devices and implants.
To obtain a limited prescriptive license extension, a candidate must complete additional study and training requirements including a number of obstetrical pharmacology training hours consistent with the training hours required for other similar prescribers and additional training consistent with guidelines commensurate with other professions providing family planning and treating common prenatal and postpartum conditions and any other sources.
To obtain an additional license extension to include medical devices and implants, a candidate must complete:
A midwife licensed in Washington State may obtain and administer prophylactic ophthalmic medication, postpartum oxytocic, vitamin K, Rho immune globulin—human, and local anesthetic, and may administer other drugs or medications prescribed by a physician, an advanced registered nurse practitioner, or a naturopath.
A midwife licensed in the state of Washington who has been granted a limited prescriptive license extension by the Secretary of Health may prescribe, obtain, and administer medications and therapies for the prevention and treatment of common prenatal and postpartum conditions and hormonal and nonhormonal family planning methods.
A midwife licensed in the state of Washington who has been granted an additional license extension to include medical devices and implants by the Secretary of Health may prescribe, obtain, and administer hormonal and nonhormonal family planning medical devices.
Foreign candidates seeking a license to practice midwifery in Washington State are not required to have the foreign certificate or diploma's translation be made under the seal of the consulate of the country where the certificate or diploma was issued.
PRO: This bill is about families receiving timely access to the care that they need from the providers with whom they have an established relationship. Many don't have established primary care providers and they are referred to urgent care or an emergency department for their common ailments. This bill allows licensed midwives to treat for common conditions of pregnancies immediately. It is a small shift in practice that would fill a gap and have an overwhelming impact on a person's holistic well-being. There is a request to expand the scope of practice for midwifery to include preconception and interconception care.
OTHER: This bill will provide access to care and provide better continuity of care especially in rural and underserved communities. There is a request for additional parameters for the prescriptive authorities and recommendation to require collaboration with the Washington Medical Commission for any rule-making.