SB 1237 Summary

• Removes requirement for certified nurse-midwives to practice under physician supervision and allows independent practice for low-risk pregnancies defined by specific clinical criteria (single fetus, cephalic presentation, 37-42 weeks gestation, spontaneous/induced labor, no preexisting conditions).

• Authorizes nurse-midwives to practice with physicians under mutually agreed-upon policies and protocols for care outside their scope or for patients with prior cesarean sections, with patients transferred to physician care when protocols are not in place.

• Expands nurse-midwife authority to furnish drugs and devices including Schedule II and III controlled substances (with physician-approved patient-specific protocols), order diagnostic tests, and procure supplies without physician supervision requirement.

• Requires nurse-midwives practicing without physician supervision to provide written disclosure and obtain informed consent from patients, including information about licensure status, practice settings, liability coverage, and arrangements for emergencies and transfers.

• Mandates reporting of all maternal/neonatal transfers and deaths in out-of-hospital settings to the State Department of Public Health within 90 days, with confidential data collection for annual legislative reports on birth outcomes under nurse-midwife care.