Getting involved in the WA State Affiliate is a tremendous way to ensure that every woman in WA state has the option to choose a midwife for her birth!

Upcoming opportunities to get involved:

• Miles for Midwives
• Public Relations
• Legislative Action 

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Miles for Midwives

We are preparing for the largest birth fair, fun run/walk in WA State history at the 3rd Annual Miles for Midwives Fun Run/Walk on October 8th at Seward Park.

Many volunteers are needed to make this event a huge success. Are you excited and ready to help?? Email Kirsten Garner

Public Relations Committee

What could be a greater benefit to women in WA state than to know more about the CNMs in their community?  The PR group uses various outlets to help spread the word about midwifery care. To join this effort: contact Mary Lou Kopas.

Get Involved - Legislative Action

Remember: If you're not at the table, you're on the menu.

One role of the Washington Affiliate of ACNM is to inform midwives and the public of legislative issues that affect the practice of midwifery as well as the women and children we care for. Our legislative team keeps on top of federal and state issues and legislation and notifies members of the WA Chapter when action is needed.

Current Federal Legislative Efforts:

OUR NEXT ENDEAVOR: Maximizing Optimal Maternity Services (MOMS) for the 21st Century (H.R. 5807)

Maximizing Optimal Maternity Services (MOMS) for the 21st Century, known as MOMS for the 21st Century, stole the show this year at the 2010 ACNM Annual Meeting in DC. This legislation was introduced just as more than 450 midwives and midwifery students lobbied Capitol Hill. MOMS for the 21st Century will improve maternity outcomes, decrease maternity care costs, and place midwives at the center of the solution. It should come as no surprise that we have one of our very own, certified nurse-midwife Deb Jessup, Legislative Assistant to Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), to thank for drafting this tour de force. MOMS for the 21st Century has been introduced in the House of Representatives (H.R. 5807) and a Senate companion bill is expected to follow.

Despite higher childbirth costs in the United States as compared to other industrialized countries, we rank far behind on perinatal outcomes, with striking disparities in communities of color. Procedure-rich hospital stays during a woman’s pregnancy and delivery in the U.S. render hospital maternity care as Medicaid’s most costly expense.

MOMS for the 21st Century will allow us, and those who value our work, to pressure Congress to support best maternity practices and the education of a more diverse maternity care workforce. Bill provisions include the promotion of optimal maternity care, a national media campaign, expansion and dissemination of best maternity care data and core maternity care curricula, more loan repayment and funding for minority recruitment and retention, as well as establishing reimbursement for midwives who supervise medical residents, medical students, and student midwives.

The ACNM Government Affairs Committee (GAC) members have been, and will continue to call on all midwives and supporters to ask their legislators to cosponsor H.R. 5807. The bill currently has 30 cosponsors (none from WA State) and we are making one last effort to gain additional support before Congress adjourns for the year, which could be as early as October. Each of us can help further this legislation by calling and emailing our U.S. Representatives to cosponsor H.R. 5807. Contact Heather Bradford, CNM, ARNP, Ex-Officio Chair of the ACNM GAC (and chapter member) at hbradford@comcast.net to learn how you can help.

For more information, go to http://www.midwife.org/MOMS_21_2010.cfm

VICTORY AT LAST!

The Midwifery Care Access and Reimbursement Equity Act of 2009 (H.R.1101/S. 662) has passed as a part of the Patient Protection and Afffordable Care Act. As of January 1, 2011, the CNM reimbursement rate will increase from 65% to 100% of the Medicare Part B fee schedule. Go to http://www.midwife.org/siteFiles/news/HR3590.pdf to learn more.

A new issue on the forefront is that Aetna is now paying ARNPs in WA State only 85% of MD fees for the same service (as Regence has done). AUWS will explore addressing this issue since reimbursement for nurse-midwives has been made equitable.

ACNM has also advocated for CNMs in other areas of health care reform. Learn about the latest of these efforts at midwife.org/health_care_reform.cfm

Current State Legislative Efforts:

The State of Washington filed a motion to delay the Stormans et al. v. Selecky et al. lawsuit involving a challenge brought by two pharmacists and a pharmacy to a Washington State Board of Pharmacy rule requiring all licensed pharmacies to fill patients’ prescriptions, regardless of an individual pharmacist’s personal beliefs about a particular medication. Read more about it here. (PDF)

Bill 6627: This bill has passed! WA state pharmacies will now accept Rx's from out-of-state ARNPs. Thanks for your work on this, ARNPs United! Read more from our own Heather Bradford, CNM.

The Washington State Legislature has passed House Bill 2747, a bill that restricts the use of restraints on incarcerated pregnant women in their third trimester and in labor and childbirth.

Other legislative tidbits:

• ACNM’s CapWiz: Members are encouraged to frequently visit CapWiz through ACNM's home page. This site offers very easy access to elected officials, legislative alerts and updates, and information on Capitol Hill Basics. The Media Guide through CapWiz allows you to contact local and national newspapers, TV and radio stations.
• ARNPs United of WA State: This non-profit organization is dedicated to promoting ARNP practice by coordinating educational, legislative, and networking activities of nurse practitioners throughout Washington State. Learn more about current state legislative efforts, past legislative successes, and other legislative topics by clicking on “legislative” on the home page. You can also learn how to obtain prescriptive authority by clicking on “Rx Authority” on the home page.
• Our chapter’s legislative team:
  Our new CNM rep for ARNPs United of Washington State is Mary Paul Beckman, CNM.
•  To learn more about issues like domestic violence litigation, patients; rights, and pharmacy prescription refusal court cases, shackling pregnancy laws, etc click here to read the Legal Voice's E-news:  http://nwwlc.convio.net/site/PageNavigator/ENewsletter/Spring2010/ENewsSpring2010.