New Analysis Explores Midwifery Workforce Crisis
A new video explores the consequences of and potential solutions for the ongoing maternity workforce shortage. The analysis likely covers issues such as provider burnout, limited clinical training slots, and the need for more diversity in the profession. Suggested solutions include tuition assistance, expanding preceptorships, and policy advocacy for improved reimbursement.
- The world is currently facing a shortage of nearly one million midwives, a deficit that impacts both low and high-income countries. Fully investing in midwifery could prevent an estimated 4.3 million maternal deaths, newborn deaths, and stillbirths annually. - In the United States, there were 12,997 Certified Nurse-Midwives and Certified Midwives in 2020, a workforce that is predominantly white. This group attends 10.9% of births in the U.S., a much lower proportion compared to other high-income countries. - States with high levels of midwifery integration, such as Washington and Oregon, report better outcomes for mothers and infants, including lower rates of cesarean births, preterm births, and neonatal deaths. - In Virginia, approximately 36% of counties are classified as "maternity care deserts," lacking adequate access to obstetric services. - To address these shortages, Virginia passed House Bill 1923, which takes effect July 1, 2025. The new law mandates that private insurers and Medicaid reimburse Licensed Certified Midwives and Licensed Midwives at the same rate as Certified Nurse-Midwives for providing the same services. - Another piece of Virginia legislation, HB 1904, will allow certified nurse-midwives and other qualified practitioners to be on 24-hour on-call rosters for nursery care when a physician is not available, starting July 1, 2025. - Barriers to expanding the midwifery workforce include state-level restrictions on practice, a shortage of clinical preceptors for students, and a lack of diversity within the profession. - The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment for nurse-midwives will grow by 13% between 2022 and 2032, a rate much faster than the average for all occupations.
