HB4364 - Home Birth Safety Act Summary

• Creates licensure requirements for certified professional midwives (CPMs) in Illinois, administered by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, effective July 1, 2016.

• Establishes the Illinois Midwifery Board with 5 members (3 licensed midwives, 1 physician/nurse-midwife, 1 public member) to provide recommendations on rules, conduct disciplinary hearings, and oversee professional standards.

• Defines midwifery scope of practice for out-of-hospital births, including prenatal care, delivery supervision, and postpartum care, while prohibiting certain procedures (surgical interventions, labor induction drugs, pain management prescriptions).

• Specifies consultation and referral requirements for high-risk pregnancies and requires licensed midwives to provide informed consent disclosures regarding experience, malpractice insurance, and emergency protocols.

• Repeals the Act on January 1, 2027 under the Regulatory Sunset Act; amends related acts to allow Medicaid reimbursement for certified professional midwife services and exempts licensed midwives from requirements under medical practice and nursing acts.