Bill > AB836

This bill aims to address the shortage of midwifery education programs in California by requiring the Department of Health Care Access and Information to fund a comprehensive statewide study on midwifery education. The study, to be conducted by an outside consultant, will examine various aspects of midwifery education, including current status, financial sustainability, student pipeline diversity, educational pathways, and workforce needs. Specific areas of investigation include evaluating existing midwifery education trends, assessing funding resources for student tuition, identifying challenges for prospective and current students, exploring potential education programs in rural and urban areas, and examining opportunities for interprofessional education between obstetricians and midwives. The bill defines "reproductive health care professionals" broadly to include medical doctors, midwives, nurses, and other related healthcare workers. Upon completion, the department must submit a report to the Legislature, post it on their website, and notify their reproductive health and maternity care electronic mailing list within 36 months of receiving funding. The underlying motivation is to develop a sustainable strategy for expanding the midwifery workforce that reflects California's diverse population, recognizing that midwives currently provide significant perinatal and reproductive healthcare but are underutilized despite demonstrating excellent health outcomes.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB836