Bill > SB2286

This bill requires the Tennessee Commissioner of Health to conduct a study, using existing resources, to examine how other states allow certified nurse midwives, who are advanced practice registered nurses specializing in pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care, to practice independently. The study aims to understand the different levels of autonomy granted to these midwives in other states and how this independence might affect maternal health outcomes, such as rates of maternal illness and death. It will also look at factors like areas with limited access to maternity care, shortages of healthcare providers, and hospital closures, and will include information on recent policy changes in other states to increase midwife autonomy and recommendations for best practices. The Commissioner must then compile these findings and any recommendations into a report and submit it to the Tennessee General Assembly by December 31, 2026.