Lynchburg, VA Approves Abortion Clinic Zoning
The city of Lynchburg, Virginia, has approved a new zoning ordinance that regulates the location of abortion clinics. While not directly targeting midwifery, the move is seen as part of ongoing regulatory shifts shaping the broader reproductive health environment in the state. Grassroots organizations are responding with logistical support for those seeking care.
- The new Lynchburg ordinance reclassifies abortion clinics, which were previously permitted by right in six zoning districts, to require a conditional-use permit in limited sections of just three districts. These locations must also be at least 1,000 feet from all residential districts, schools, public parks, and places of worship. - While some localities are restricting access, Virginia voters will decide on a constitutional amendment in the November 2026 election that would establish a "fundamental right to reproductive freedom," including abortion care, contraception, and fertility treatments. Virginia is currently the only southern state that has not enacted new abortion restrictions since the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision. - The Virginia affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) is focused on the 2026 General Assembly, with priorities that include addressing barriers preventing midwives from contracting with state Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs). The organization will hold a "Midwives' Advocacy Day" at the state capitol on February 4, 2026, in partnership with the Virginia Midwives Alliance. - As of July 1, 2025, new state law requires insurance companies, including Medicaid, to reimburse Licensed Certified Midwives (LCMs) and Licensed Midwives (LMs) at 100% of the fee schedule, achieving payment parity with Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs). Additional legislation passed in 2025 provides LCMs with a pathway to autonomous practice without a physician agreement after completing 1,000 clinical hours. - According to the Virginia Department of Health, the state's maternal mortality rate was 34.5 deaths per 100,000 live births for the years 2019-2023. Data from 2024 shows a preterm birth rate of 10.1%, which ranks Virginia 24th among all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. - Governor Glenn Youngkin's maternal health initiative is focused on reducing mortality and increasing access to care through collaboration with state agencies and healthcare professionals. One opportunity identified by community-based organizations to support this goal is to promote the benefits of midwifery and community doula models of care. - A new state law, the Reproductive & Sexual Health Consumer Protection Act (SB754), takes effect on July 1, 2025. The law prohibits businesses from obtaining, selling, or sharing personally identifiable reproductive or sexual health information without the consumer's explicit consent and creates a private right of action for violations. - Innovations in maternal care being implemented and studied include the expansion of evidence-based home visiting programs and the use of telehealth to bridge gaps in care. Globally, emerging technologies include low-cost uterine balloon tamponades to manage postpartum hemorrhage and web-based training platforms for practitioners to improve skills in managing childbirth-related injuries.
