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1999 SESSION

999446828
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 646
Offered January 21, 1999
Directing the Joint Commission on Health Care, with the assistance of the Department of Health Professions and the Department of Health, to examine the advisability of legalizing the practice of direct-entry midwifery in the Commonwealth.
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Patrons-- Hamilton, Brink, Davies, Diamonstein, Melvin and Morgan; Senators: Bolling, Lambert, Martin, Schrock, Walker and Woods
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Referred to Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions
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WHEREAS, direct-entry midwives are not currently allowed to practice in Virginia unless registered with the Department of Health prior to 1977; and

WHEREAS, only six direct-entry midwives are currently registered under these statutory provisions, most of whom are not actively practicing; and

WHEREAS, some direct-entry midwives are currently practicing in Virginia outside of state law; and

WHEREAS, most states currently permit the practice of direct-entry midwifery in some form; and

WHEREAS, significant variation exists among states that have legalized direct-entry midwifery regarding whether and how the practice is regulated; and

WHEREAS, notwithstanding the prohibition on the practice of direct-entry midwifery in the Code of Virginia, at least 199 births in Virginia during 1996 were attended by direct-entry midwives; and

WHEREAS, access to competent care is important in both in-hospital and out-of-hospital birth settings; and

WHEREAS, at the request of the House Rules Committee, the Joint Commission on Health Care recently completed a study, originally proposed by Senate Joint Resolution 196, on issues regarding midwifery; and

WHEREAS, further study is necessary to examine the experiences of other states that have legalized direct-entry midwifery as well as to further examine scientific studies on birth outcomes in different settings; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Joint Commission on Health Care, with the assistance of the Department of Health Professions and the Department of Health, examine the advisability of legalizing direct-entry midwifery. The study shall include, but not be limited to, analysis of (i) advantages and disadvantages of legalizing direct-entry midwifery, (ii) experiences of other states that have legalized direct-entry midwifery, (iii) options for effectively regulating the practice of direct-entry midwifery to ensure, to the extent possible, the health and safety of women and infants receiving direct-entry midwifery services, and (iv) other issues as may seem appropriate; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Joint Commission on Health Care report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 2000 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.