SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6178
As of January 16, 2024
Title: An act relating to aligning the legend drug act to reflect the prescriptive authority for licensed midwives.
Brief Description: Aligning the legend drug act to reflect the prescriptive authority for licensed midwives.
Sponsors: Senators Randall, Torres, Nobles, Trudeau, Kuderer, Dhingra, Salda?a, Shewmake and Wilson, C..
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Health & Long Term Care: 1/19/24.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Amends the list of providers who may prescribe, obtain, and administer legend drugs to include licensed midwives, to the extent authorized.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG TERM CARE
Staff: Julie Tran (786-7283)
Background:

A licensed midwife renders medical aid for a fee to a person during prenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum stages or to a newborn up to two weeks of age.  The Secretary of Health is the disciplining authority for licensed midwives.  


To be licensed as a midwife, a person must have a high school education, be at least 21 years of age, possess a certificate or diploma from a midwifery program, and pass an examination.


In 2022, the Legislature established a limited prescriptive license extension for licensed midwives. A midwife who has been granted a limited prescriptive license extension may prescribe, obtain, and administer antibiotic, antiemetic, antiviral, antifungal, low-potency topical steroid, and antipruritic medications and therapies; other medications and therapies for the prevention and treatment of conditions that do not constitute a significant deviation from normal in pregnancy or postpartum; and hormonal and non-hormonal family planning methods.
Summary of Bill:

The list of providers who may prescribe, obtain, and administer legend drugs is amended to include licensed midwives, to the extent authorized by the licensed midwives' scope of practice.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 13, 2024
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.