FILED ON: 11/9/2011

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3815

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Eleven

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An Act relative to enhancing the practice of nurse-midwives.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Subsection (g) of said section 7 of chapter 94C of the general laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the third paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:

The commissioner shall promulgate regulations which provide for the registration of certified nurse-midwives, as provided in section 80C of chapter 112, to issue written prescriptions in accordance with regulations pursuant to section 80G of chapter 112. Prior to promulgating such regulations, the commissioner shall consult with the board of registration in nursing and the board of registration in medicine with regard to those schedules of controlled substances for which certified nurse-midwives may be registered.

SECTION 2. Section 80C of chapter 112 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the following words “; provided, however, that the nurse-midwife functions as a member of a health care team which includes a qualified physician licensed to practice medicine in the commonwealth which physician has admitting privileges in a hospital licensed by the department of public health for the operation of maternity and newborn services”.

SECTION 3. Chapter 112 is hereby amended by striking out section 80G and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 80G. A nurse authorized to practice as a certified nurse-midwife, pursuant to section 80C, may order and interpret tests, therapeutics and prescribe medications in accordance with regulations promulgated by the board and subject to the provisions of subsection (g) of section 7 of chapter 94C. Nurse-midwives shall practice within a health care system and have clinical relationships with obstetrician-gynecologists that provide for consultation, collaborative management or referral, as indicated by the health status of the patient. Nurse-midwifery care shall be consistent with the standards of care established by the American College of Nurse-Midwives.”