HB 503 -- Licensure of Midwives

Sponsor:  Portwood

This bill establishes the Board of Direct-Entry Midwives in the
Division of Professional Registration within the Department of
Insurance, Financial Institutions, and Professional Registration.
The bill:

(1)  Authorizes the board to issue licenses to applicants with a
current certification from the North American Registry of
Midwives as a certified professional midwife;

(2)  Requires applicants to submit evidence of his or her current
certification in adult and infant CPR and either infant CPR or
neonatal resuscitation;

(3)  Authorizes the board to issue, refuse to issue, or renew
licenses for reasons specified in the bill;

(4)  Allows the board to file complaints with the Administrative
Hearing Commission against licensees;

(5)  Creates within the state treasury the Board of Direct-Entry
Midwives Fund;

(6)  Requires licensees to submit a written disclosure statement
to each client specifying the practice of midwifery and their
training, experience, liability coverage, and emergency medical
plan;

(7)  Specifies that no person other than the direct-entry midwife
who provided care will be liable for his or her negligence, acts,
or omissions and that no licensed physician, licensed nurse,
certified nurse midwife, hospital, or emergency medical
technician will be exempt from liability for his or her own
negligence, acts, or omissions;

(8)  Specifies that a licensee will not be considered to be
engaged in the practice of medicine, nursing, or any other
medical or healing practice; and

(9)  Prohibits licensees from prescribing drugs; performing
vacuum deliveries, medical inductions, or cesarean sections; or
using forceps during a delivery.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated July 25, 2007 at 11:19 am