HB 520: Georgia Licensed Midwife Act
Our legislation that is currently being sponsored by Rep. Karen Mathiak in the Georgia House of Representatives. Enter your email address above to be kept up to date!
Who:
HB 520 offers midwifery licensure to direct-entry midwives in Georgia through flexible routes:
Credentialed midwives with nationally accredited midwifery certification with ICM aligned education OR Midwifery Bridge Certificate
Experienced midwives who may not have a credential
Midwives who hold a license in another jurisdiction with similar requirements
Additional Requirements
Additionally, all candidates for licensure must demonstrate:
CPR and NRP Certification
Completion of an OB Pharmacology course
Scope of Practice
Midwives are experts in normal, physiological birth. Under HB520 a Licensed Midwife will:
Provide care for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period in an out-of-hospital setting such as a birth center or home.
This care includes education, counseling, and support to women and their families as the midwife identifies the unique physical, social, and emotional needs of the client.
Order laboratory analyses for screening purposes, order obstetric ultrasounds, use a Doppler, blood pressure cuff, and other instruments common to prenatal care and childbirth
Attend a spontaneously occurring birth between 37 and 42 weeks’ gestation
Recognize when a referral or transfer of care to a higher level is needed for abnormal conditions and facilitate that transfer or referral while working within a network of relationships with other maternity care providers.
Obtain, carry, and use Schedule 1 medications commonly used in childbirth such as antihemmorrhagics, oxygen, IV fluids, and vitamin K. However, Licensed Midwives will not have prescribing privileges.
Provide care for the newborn baby, including performing all newborn screenings required by the state of Georgia.
Provide breastfeeding support and counseling
About CPM
Learn about the Certified Professional Midwife credential.
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About Georgia NACPM
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