BillTrack50 logo
Free Signup Login
Bill

Bill > HB1389

MS HB1389

MS HB1389
Midwifery; provide for licensure and regualtion of by health department.

summary

Introduced
01/16/2026
In Committee
01/16/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
02/12/2026

Introduced Session

2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

An Act To Provide For The Licensure And Regulation Of Professional Midwifery; To Provide Definitions For The Purpose Of The Act; To Provide Exceptions To The Applicability Of The Act; To Provide The Scope Of Practice For Licensed Midwives; To Provide Mandatory Procedures For Licensed Midwives; To Prohibit Licensed Midwives From Certain Actions; To Provide That The State Department Of Health Shall Administer Licensure And Regulation Of Licensed Midwives Under Rules Promulgated By The State Board Of Health And To Provide Powers And Duties For Implementation; To Require The State Board Of Health To Promulgate Rules Not Later Than July 1, 2027; To Require A License Issued By The Department To Practice Professional Midwifery; To Provide For The Issuance Of Temporary Permits To Practice Pending Qualification For Licensure; To Provide Exemptions From Licensure For Certain Persons; To Provide For The Confidentiality Of Information Maintained By The Department; To Provide Immunity For Certain Actions; To Provide Penalties For Violations Of This Act; To Prohibit Terminology In Any Health Coverage Plan, Policy Or Contract That Is Discriminatory Against Professional Midwifery; To Require Health Coverage Plans That Provide Maternity Benefits To Provide Coverage For Services Rendered By A Licensed Midwife; To Provide Whenever A Health Coverage Plan Provides For Reimbursement Of Any Services That Are Within The Lawful Scope Of Practice Of Licensed Midwives, The Person Entitled To Benefits Under The Plan Shall Be Entitled To Reimbursement For The Services, Whether The Services Are Performed By A Physician Or A Licensed Midwife; To Require The State Department Of Health To Develop And Institute A Safe Perinatal Transfer Certification For The Facilities That It Regulates; To Amend Section 73-25-33, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Clarify That The Practice Of Midwifery Is Not Considered To Be The Practice Of Medicine; And For Related Purposes.

AI Summary

This bill, known as the "Mississippi Midwifery License Law," establishes a framework for the licensure and regulation of professional midwives by the State Department of Health (Department), with oversight from the State Board of Health (Board). It defines professional midwifery as a distinct practice focused on patient-centered maternity care, emphasizing normal physiological birth while recognizing the need for medical intervention when necessary, and clarifies that midwifery is not the practice of medicine. The bill outlines the scope of practice for licensed midwives, which includes providing primary maternity care for low-risk women and newborns during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum periods, as well as offering nonprescriptive family planning and basic well-woman care, and mandates specific procedures and prohibitions, such as prohibiting surgical procedures beyond episiotomies or repairs of perineal lacerations, and the use of forceps or vacuum extraction. The Department will administer the licensing process, including issuing licenses and temporary permits, investigating complaints, and enforcing penalties for violations, with the Board required to develop and implement rules for licensure, educational standards, and practice guidelines by July 1, 2027. A Midwifery Advisory Council, composed of licensed midwives, physicians, and a consumer representative, will be established to provide guidance to the Department and Board. The bill also mandates that health insurance plans provide coverage for services rendered by licensed midwives on par with physicians, prohibiting discriminatory terminology and reimbursement practices, and requires the Department to develop a safe perinatal transfer certification for healthcare facilities. Importantly, it amends existing law to explicitly state that the practice of midwifery is not considered the practice of medicine.

Committee Categories

Health and Social Services

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Died On Calendar (on 02/12/2026)

bill text

bill summary

Loading...

bill summary

Loading...
Loading...