Illinois House OKs bill to license professional midwives
By SARAH MANSUR
Capitol News Illinois
smansur@capitolnewsillinois.com
SPRINGFIELD — The certified professional midwife profession in Illinois moved one step closer to becoming an officially licensed occupation on Thursday with the passage of House Bill 3401.
HB 3401 creates the Licensed Certified Professional Midwife Practice Act, which would license individuals who perform out-of-hospital births and have earned the credentials associated with being a professional midwife.
The bill, sponsored by Evanston Democratic Rep. Robyn Gabel, garnered bipartisan support, with only one Republican and one Democrat voting against it.
Gabel said the Illinois State Medical Society, the Illinois Nurses Association, American College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians, and the Illinois Health and Hospital Association are among many medical groups that support the bill.
“This will make (certified professional midwives) legitimate, legal, licensed and safe,” Gabel said on the House floor. “This is a group of midwives who are trained to do home births, and that’s what they do. Up to this point, it’s been illegal in this state to do that, and they couldn’t get insurance, they couldn’t transfer to a hospital, they couldn’t talk to a doctor.”
The bill “makes them legal, so they can now try to get insurance, they can have relationships with a hospital so they can transfer a baby if that should happen,” Gabel said.
CPMs are currently licensed in 35 states and Washington, D.C.
The bill defines the practice of midwifery as the “means of providing the necessary supervision, care, and advice to a client during a low-risk pregnancy, labor and the post-partum period, including the intended low-risk delivery of a child, and providing normal newborn care.”
The definition specifically excludes the practice of nursing and medicine. The bill distinguishes between a certified professional midwife and a certified nurse midwife, which is a separate occupation that requires a nursing degree.
Certified professional midwives are accredited by the North American Registry of Midwives, which issued its first CPM credential in 1994, according to the NARM website.
In addition to NARM certification, the bill also requires completion of a postsecondary midwifery education program through an institution, program or pathway accredited by the Midwife Education and Accreditation Council, which is defined in the bill as the nationally recognized accrediting agency that establishes standards for the education of midwives in the U.S.
A midwife accredited by NARM who has not completed a MEAC program can still obtain licensure if they have practiced as a CPM for more than three years and acquire other certifications.
The bill also creates an Illinois Midwifery Board that could recommend revisions to the Licensed Certified Professional Midwife Practice Act, among other duties, and it tasks the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation with administrating and enforcing the legislation.
Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, voted against the bill, citing the opposition by the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, which is a group advocating on behalf of plaintiff lawyers who represent injured victims, oftentimes in medical malpractice and wrongful death cases.
“My understanding is that the consultant who provides the consultation, whether that’s a doctor or hospital, and the midwife followed this negligent advice, they would not be liable under your bill and that’s the concern. So, I’m not going to be able to support your bill today. I do want to support it,” Hoffman said.
Rep. Anna Moeller, D-Elgin, said the bill goes far enough in providing sufficient liability protections.
In the committee process, Moeller said, health care providers testified that “maintaining the language that encourages collaboration between doctors, nurses and the midwives,” was “incredibly important,” as was “ensuring that liability is neither expanded or more limited based on that collaboration.”
“Removing that language would actually create a chilling effect and would lead to a more dangerous situation where you would have parties not working together for the benefit of the mother and the baby as part of the home birth,” Moeller said. “And, the fact of the matter is, right now we know that home births are happening in Illinois, but they’re happening in a very unregulated and potentially unsafe manner.”
Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer, a Jacksonville Republican, also opposed the bill because it lacks a requirement that CPMs have an affiliation with a medical doctor.
The bill does, however, require a CPM to consult with a physician or certified nurse midwife if the pregnant woman presents certain complications, such as abnormal lab results, or specific risk factors.
The bill passed by a 105-2 vote, and heads to the state Senate for further debate.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government and distributed to more than 400 newspapers statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
Local News
Sorry, we couldn't find any posts. Please try a different search.
Neighbors
Orland Park Library collecting candy wrappers
Spread the loveBy Kelly White Candy has taken on a whole new life at one local library. The Orland Park Public Library, 14921 S. Ravinia Ave., Orland Park, is happy to announce the launch of its very first Trash or Treasure candy wrapper recycling campaign. The Trash or Treasure program helps reduce the waste that…
Hickory Hills adds new police officer
Spread the loveBy Nuha Abdessalam Hickory Hills Police Chief Jason Bray welcomed Andre Showers as the city’s newest police officer during last week’s city council meeting. Aldermen and the community at the April 11 meeting helped celebrate the induction of the Showers, 21. He’s an Army veteran and a 2023 Cook County Correctional Camp graduate…
Marist celebrates cultural diversity
Spread the loveBy Kelly White Marist High School appreciates the wide array of culture that walks its campus hallways on a daily basis. In order to celebrate, the high school, 4200 W. 115th St., Chicago, hosted its second annual Celebration of Culture on March 14. During the free event, students, faculty and staff represented their…
Palos Heights Knights of Columbus donate to GiGi’s Playhouse
Spread the loveGrand Knight John Laskey and Past Grand Knight Brian Mellenthin of St. Theodore Guerin Knights of Columbus Council 14057 presented a check for $1,500 to GiGi’s Playhouse of Tinley Park, one of several donations to local groups resulting from the Knights of Columbus’ Fall Tootsie Roll Drive. One of the most recognizable activities…
Worth police join task force to combat auto thefts
Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle An agreement has been reached between the villages of Worth and Thornton regarding participation in the Illinois Statewide Auto Theft Task Force. Worth Police Chief Tim Denton said the approval of the memorandum to participate in the task force is necessary. “It’s no secret that there has been an increase…
A simple idea for Earth Day
Spread the love. By Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place • (773) 517-7796 . Moving right along through April, as the days get longer and nicer, time will start to go by faster. We have Earth Day on April 22 and the start of Passover at sunset.…
Bingo at St. Clare was something to yell about
Spread the love. Kathy Headley Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor 6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778 . Recently I mentioned a bingo fundraiser the Augustinian Young Adults of St. Rita of Cascia Parish were holding. This was their first attempt at a bingo and they put on a really nice event. Held…
One thing is certain: life goes on
Spread the love. Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327 . I get a lot of calls from residents who are discouraged about our neighborhood. There are so many car accidents, shootings and violent crimes being committed in West Lawn and surrounding areas. It certainly is challenging to stay hopeful and positive. Here is a paragraph…
Biz groups battle over names, logos
Spread the love. UBAM, MCC trade barbs . By Dermot Connolly and Tim Hadac The leader of one Midway-area business association is accusing the other of bad faith, and the leader of the other is scratching her head over the dustup. United Business Association of Midway Executive Director Anita Cummings recently claimed that a rival…