Sunset Direct-entry Midwives

The act implements the recommendations of the department of regulatory agencies' sunset review and report on the registration of direct-entry midwives by:

• Continuing the registration requirements for 7 years, until September 1, 2028;
• Authorizing direct-entry midwives to administer group B streptococcus (GBS) prophylaxis;
• Adding licensed birth centers to the locations where a direct-entry midwife may practice; and
• Requiring the director of the division of professions and occupations (director) to develop policies regarding direct-entry midwives in training.

The act also:

• Specifies that a direct-entry midwife who is granted additional authority is not required to apply for renewal of that authority or pay any renewal fees for the authority;
• Removes the requirement that a direct-entry midwife report certain data at the time of registration renewal;
• Authorizes the director to order the physical or mental examination of a direct-entry midwife if the director has reasonable cause to believe that the direct-entry midwife is subject to a physical or mental disability that renders the direct-entry midwife unable to treat patients with reasonable skill and safety or that may endanger a patient's health or safety; and
• Requires the state registrar to revise the birth certificate worksheet form to include a requirement to report whether the live birth occurred after a transfer to a hospital by a direct-entry midwife.

The act appropriates to the department of public health and environment:

• $50,080 from the health facilities general licensure cash fund for use by the health facilities and emergency medical services division for administration and operations; and
• $30,000 from the vital statistics records cash fund for use by the health statistics and vital records subdivision for operating expenses.
  (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)