The MMA is in effect today. Congratulations to us all. In celebration, come to the Freedom Fiesta this Saturday at the Brunswick Elks Club, starting at 6 PM. The event is free (donations accepted). Also, please bring a new or gently used baby blanket or a pack of disposable diapers for donation to Unity House. See you there!
May all babies be born into loving hands...
K. Michelle Doyle, CNM, NYS LM
www.localcaremidwifery.com
www.localcaremidwifery.blogspot.com
“Midwifery Modernization Act” in effect November 1, 2010
The New York State Association of Licensed Midwives (NYSALM) is proud to announce that as of November 1, the “Midwifery Modernization Act” goes into effect. This amendment to the Midwifery Practice Act will increase access to women’s health care especially in communities where there has been a shortage or absence of health care providers. This amendment also rightly places responsibility for informed consent between midwives and the women they serve rather than on a written practice agreement with a physician.
NYSALM is extraordinarily grateful to both consumers in New York and to our legislators who made this important change possible. Midwifery consumers and women’s health care advocates were passionate and invaluable in this legislative effort. We also applaud the NYS Legislature, Governor Paterson who signed the bill on July 30, and the State Health Department for recognizing the importance of taking action on this issue.
We are particularly grateful to the many women staffers in both the Assembly and Senate who were so helpful behind the scenes and to our legislators who worked on this bill while simultaneously working to get the state’s budget passed. Laura Sheperis, President of NYSALM, said “We were pleased to see how hard the members of the legislature worked to pass this bill in an extremely efficient manner, and we were thrilled to have unanimous support in the Senate.”
The previous requirement of a written practice agreement had been a barrier to both choice of provider and access to care for many women across the state over the past 18 years since the midwifery licensing law was passed in 1992.
NYSALM looks forward to our continuing relationship with our physician colleagues and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) as we all work to improve maternal and newborn outcomes in our state and to increase client satisfaction. We are partners in the health care of women, and we appreciate physicians’ expert consultation when the women in our care have medical needs beyond our scope of practice. While written practice agreements are no longer necessary for NY midwives, functional collaborative relationships are as important as ever.
November 1, 2010 is an historic date for midwifery in New York. Thank you!
To contact NYSALM, please call 518-852-7965.
