The Midwifery Modernization Act

A new bill has been introduced by the NY senate (bill S5007) and the assembly (bill A08117) to remove the Written Practice Agreement (WPA) portion of the current midwifery laws. The WPA means that a midwife, who has already undergone full training and licensure, must also have a practice agreement with a collaborating physician in order to serve women.

While the midwives agree that they should have collaboration with other providers when tending to their patients, they feel that this is already part of their job, and does not require a written agreement. They also argue that the WPA has made it extremely difficult for them to practice, since many providers will either not sign the agreement or make stipulations that are too restrictive.

Removing the WPA will have countless benefits including:

• Increasing access to care for all women of childbearing age and beyond, especially in rural communities
• Economic benefits since midwifery care is more cost-effective (thereby reducing insurance costs)
• Improving both maternal and infant health, which is currently on the decline

You can download a letter to send to your state representatives here. Please send a copy, or your own personal letter, to your state senator and assembly member. You can find your senator by entering your address here, and your assembly member here.

Don't forget to sign your letter and include your address for verification purposes.

The text of the bill can be found here, and the sponsor memo for the senate bill can be found here.

Please take a moment to tell your state representatives that you support this bill!

We need your help - your letter will be read and counted!!