Advocates Push For Bill To Relax Regulations That Limit Midwives’ Role
There's a severe shortage of OB/GYN personnel in the state, and women's access to care is further hampered by restrictions placed on midwives.
CALmatters:
Why Midwives Can’t Help To Ease California’s Shortage Of OB-GYNs
Eight California counties—particularly those in the far north and east—lack even one licensed obstetrician-gynecologist, and 11 other counties have a handful or fewer, according to the state’s Health and Human Services Department. Certified nurse-midwives, who help ease the load, have been arguing that they could do more. But they are restrained by the fact that California is one of just six states requiring them to work only under a physician’s supervision. A bill that would have expanded their reach by permitting nurse-midwives to work independently almost cleared the Legislature, but failed in the waning hours of the legislative session, after fierce last-minute opposition from the doctors’ lobby. (Canto, 9/10)