Legislative Priorities - TAKE ACTION
Find My Legislator
Your Voice Truly Matters. You have the power to be a maternal and child health advocate by supporting current legislation: To increase access to certified nurse midwives' services (H1127/S697) and Enhancing sustainability for birth centers and the midwifery workforce (H1117/S784).
By contacting your elected officials and supporting this crucial legislation, you are taking powerful action towards positive change.
Policy changes are one of the most impactful ways we can improve access to care and advance birth and reproductive justice. Together we can make a real difference in the lives of those affected.
To Find your Legislator, enter a location or click on the map, you can also scroll to bottom of page to enter your address
Stay Tuned
We will keep you posted on news
- Updates on the 2027-2028 legislative session
- Other maternal health news and activism impacting Massachusetts
Legislative News
A Persistent Fight for Fair Childbirth in Massachusetts
Boston University School of Public Health (4/25/24)
This story, written by DrPH student Omonyele Adjognon and senior COM student Lauren Fox, examines the longstanding challenges to opening and operating freestanding, midwife-assisted birth centers in Massachusetts and updates the arduous journey of Boston University School of Public Health alum Nashira Baril (SPH’06) and her fight to open the Neighborhood Birth Center in Roxbury. Read more
Midwife Access Bill a Success
Massachusetts Legislature (8/15/24)
H4999 An Act promoting access to midwifery care and out-of-hospital birth options passed in informal sessions and signed by Governor Maura Healey
A few highlights of the bill regarding midwives and birth centers:
- Establishes a pathway to licensure for Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs)
- Creates a majority-CPM board of midwifery to oversee CPM licensure
- Empowers the board of midwifery to develop rules and regulations including clinical criteria around low risk pregnancies.
- No malpractice insurance mandate in statute, and the board "may" set any such requirements.
- Authorizes CPMs to obtain, carry, and administer medications within their clinical scope of practice.
- Requires MassHealth to cover CPM care.
- Requires the Department of Public Health to update regulations governing freestanding birth centers, with input from birth center stakeholders and aligned with AABC standards
- Allows CPMs and Nurse Midwives to serve as clinical directors for freestanding birth centers (previously, only physicians could hold this role).
- Allows CPMs to serve as birth attendants in freestanding birth centers (previously, only Nurse Midwives or physicians could hold this role).
- Requires that MassHealth reimburse Nurse Midwives at the same rate as physicians for the same services. Read more