...across the country, states are increasingly moving away from requiring a supervising physician for nurse-midwives; a move that will broaden health access for women...
Download the February 9, 2012 post from Kaiser Health Capsules on the Kaiser Health Network Blog
Certified nurse-midwives in Massachusetts no longer need to have a physician sign on the dotted line in order to work in the state.
Under a new state law, nurse-midwives do not have to practice under a physician’s supervision. Instead, they will be required to practice within a health care system and have a clinical relationship with an obstetrician-gynecologist.
At a practical level, the law means that nurse-midwives, who long have been able to write prescriptions and order tests, won’t need a doctor to oversee their decisions. Massachusetts only licenses certified nurse-midwives, so the law does not apply to any other midwives.
Kathryn Kravetz Carr, president of the Massachusetts Affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives, said the changes will make it easier for women to access health care.
Comments