Professional Groups Key for New Midwives
Early-career Certified Nurse-Midwives are finding mentorship and advocacy opportunities through professional organizations. In a recent podcast, one CNM described joining the ACNM Virginia Affiliate and the advocacy group Virginia Families for Access to Midwifery. She cited the groups as providing a crucial sense of community during clinical rotations and early practice.
- Recent Virginia legislation aims to address maternity care shortages by expanding the roles of midwives. Effective July 1, 2025, House Bill 1904 will permit certified nurse-midwives to serve on 24-hour on-call rosters for nursery care when a physician is unavailable, a measure intended to provide more staffing flexibility, especially in rural hospitals. - As of July 1, 2025, new laws in Virginia will mandate that private insurers and Medicaid reimburse Licensed Certified Midwives (LCMs) and Licensed Midwives (LMs) at the same rate as Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) for the same services. This pay parity, established by House Bill 1923, is designed to support a more diverse midwifery workforce and improve access to care in underserved areas. - The Virginia Neonatal Perinatal Collaborative (VNPC) is implementing the "SAFE Birth VA" initiative, which requires all Virginia hospitals with emergency departments or labor and delivery units, as well as freestanding emergency departments and birthing centers, to adopt standardized, evidence-based protocols for obstetric emergencies like hemorrhage and preeclampsia. This statewide effort aims to improve maternal and infant outcomes through standardized emergency response. - To improve maternal health data and transparency, the Virginia Department of Health has launched new data dashboards. These tools provide public access to metrics on maternal mortality, pregnancy-associated deaths, preterm births, and prenatal care, with data sortable by region, health district, and race. - In response to workforce shortages, recent legislation in Virginia has expanded the scope of practice for midwives, including allowing them to practice independently without a written practice agreement with a physician after completing 1,000 hours of practice. This change is intended to help alleviate the strain on maternity care, particularly in the 37.6% of Virginia counties classified as maternity care deserts. - Digital health platforms are being increasingly utilized to expand access to maternal care in Virginia. One such initiative, the Pharmacy Care Hub model, partners with 73 community pharmacies to provide services like pregnancy testing, blood pressure monitoring, and virtual provider chats to overcome transportation and broadband barriers. - Student midwives in Virginia can find support and networking opportunities through organizations like the Virginia Midwives Alliance (VMA). The VMA offers student memberships which include participation in committees, invitations to meetings, and access to a group messaging forum for peer and mentor connection.
