1. Who is NYCPM?
NY CPM, INC. is a non for profit 501(c)4 organization with a mission to expand midwifery licensure in New York State to include Certified Professional Midwives.
Each of our members is an integral part in making waves for the New York Community Midwifery Bill S310a/A4819a that is set to reach lawmakers this session.
2. Where can I find the bill?
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/S310a
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/A4819a
3. What's happening with the bill now?
Updates as of Janaury, 2024:
● The State Education Department and NYCPM have made the amendments and language changes after feedback from the birth community and the NY State Education Department. The current version of the bill addresses all concerns raised by previous versions, and now meets both US-MERA recommended standards and those established by the International Confederation of Midwives.
● The bill remains in the Higher Education Committee in both houses before moving to the floor for votes. We believe that with the amendments and language changes, there are no current obstacles which would holding up this the bill from moving forward. We believe this is the RIGHT bill for CPMs and birthing families in NY.
● Cosponsors:
o Senate S310a with 16 of 63 Senate members co-sponsoring the bill
o Assembly A4819a with 34 of 150 Assembly members co-sponsoring the bill
4. What changes have been included in the language of the current bill?
● Removal of all references to Certified Community Midwife or Community Midwife
Important: the revisions incorporated into the current bill came from requests from the birth community, people like you, professional midwifery organizations, and the New York State Education Department. We believe this is the right bill for licensing CPMs in New York now and for the future generation of midwives .
5. What does United States Midwifery Education, Regulation & Association (USMERA) compliant mean?
With USMERA Compliance, we not only receive support from Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME), American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM), American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB), Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA), Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (MEAC), National Association of Certified Professional Midwives (NACPM), and North American Registry of Midwives (NARM), but also US MERA offers clear guidelines for education that will align with New York State Education requests.
6. Where can I find out who my senator is and if they are Co-Sponsoring?
Senator: Visit https://www.nysenate.gov/find-my-senator and fill out the form
Assembly: Visit https://nyassembly.gov/mem/search/ and fill out the form
Then visit the bill page to check for co-sponsors:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2024/S310a
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2024/a4819a
7. What is the timeline?
This Legislative Session runs from January-June. This means that the Higher Education Committee in both houses must put this bill on their agendas, pass it, and move it to the full assembly and senate for a vote. We believe THIS is the year when it has the highest chance of being passed. NEW YORK NEEDS MORE MIDWIVES - AND CPM's PROVIDE A SOLUTION TO THE MATERNITY CARE CRISIS!
8. What do you need from New York constituents?
All of the below:
1. Text "NYCPM" to 50409 to send an automated letter to your local representative!
2. Sign the letter of support below, and send a copy to the Higher Education Committee
https://forms.gle/oKkyecWsf18LWvXK7
3. Call your Senator and Assembly member
4. Call the Chair of the Senate Higher ed. committee and urge them to put S310A on their agenda
Senate: Toby Ann Stavisky
[email protected]
142-29 37th AveSuite 1
Flushing, NY 11354
Phone: (718) 445-0004
Fax: (718) 445-8398
5. SHARE these steps on social media, email, text, and word of mouth
9. How can people who do not live in New York help?
1. Sign the letter of support to the Higher Education Committee who is currently sitting on our bill!
https://forms.gle/oKkyecWsf18LWvXK7
2. SHARE the movement on social media, email, text, and word of mouth.
You can find us at
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NYCPM501c4
Instagram: @NYCPM.inc
Website: www.nycpmidwives.org
NY CPM, INC. is a non for profit 501(c)4 organization with a mission to expand midwifery licensure in New York State to include Certified Professional Midwives.
Each of our members is an integral part in making waves for the New York Community Midwifery Bill S310a/A4819a that is set to reach lawmakers this session.
2. Where can I find the bill?
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/S310a
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/A4819a
3. What's happening with the bill now?
Updates as of Janaury, 2024:
● The State Education Department and NYCPM have made the amendments and language changes after feedback from the birth community and the NY State Education Department. The current version of the bill addresses all concerns raised by previous versions, and now meets both US-MERA recommended standards and those established by the International Confederation of Midwives.
● The bill remains in the Higher Education Committee in both houses before moving to the floor for votes. We believe that with the amendments and language changes, there are no current obstacles which would holding up this the bill from moving forward. We believe this is the RIGHT bill for CPMs and birthing families in NY.
● Cosponsors:
o Senate S310a with 16 of 63 Senate members co-sponsoring the bill
o Assembly A4819a with 34 of 150 Assembly members co-sponsoring the bill
4. What changes have been included in the language of the current bill?
● Removal of all references to Certified Community Midwife or Community Midwife
- We heard you! The title "Certified Community Midwife" was designed to set us apart from the NY title "Licensed Midwife" which in the current New York law refers to CMs and CNMs. We were told we cannot use the term LM by our sponsor. However, the birth community and many respected organizations reported to us that the title "Certified Community Midwife" not only is a credential that does not exist, or one that someone cannot become certified as, but is also confusing. We have proposed changing the language to "Licensed Certified Professional Midwife". All language regarding the use of that term will be adjusted anywhere they exist on the bill.
- This includes educational requirement as graduation from a MEAC-accredited midwifery program (more information below).
- Midwives, and affiliated birth workers, reached out to us and were unhappy with language that referenced "obstetrics and gynecology". We incorporated changes that more closely align with the midwifery model of care.
- We made sure that the language reflected the ability for Licensed Certified Professional Midwives in New York to be able to collaborate with physicians when needed, without requiring a collaborative agreement that was found to be unworkable due to physician concerns regarding vicarious liability; the new language mirrors that of the 2010 Midwifery Modernization Act.
- The language now clearly delineates that Licensed Certified Professional Midwives will have access to those medications which are needed for safe practice for community pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care, including the ability to order imaging and laboratory testing.
Important: the revisions incorporated into the current bill came from requests from the birth community, people like you, professional midwifery organizations, and the New York State Education Department. We believe this is the right bill for licensing CPMs in New York now and for the future generation of midwives .
5. What does United States Midwifery Education, Regulation & Association (USMERA) compliant mean?
With USMERA Compliance, we not only receive support from Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME), American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM), American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB), Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA), Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (MEAC), National Association of Certified Professional Midwives (NACPM), and North American Registry of Midwives (NARM), but also US MERA offers clear guidelines for education that will align with New York State Education requests.
- All applicants for licensure will be required to have completed an educational program or pathway accredited by the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (MEAC) and obtained the CPM credential.
- For CPMs who obtained certification through an educational pathway not accredited by MEAC:
- (PEP + Bridge): CPMs certified before January 1, 2020, through a non-accredited pathway will be required to obtain the Midwifery Bridge Certificate issued by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) in order to apply for licensure
- (Licensed in another state): CPMs who have maintained licensure in a state that does not require an accredited education may obtain the Midwifery Bridge Certificate regardless of the date of their certification in order to apply for licensure in a state that includes the US MERA language.
6. Where can I find out who my senator is and if they are Co-Sponsoring?
Senator: Visit https://www.nysenate.gov/find-my-senator and fill out the form
Assembly: Visit https://nyassembly.gov/mem/search/ and fill out the form
Then visit the bill page to check for co-sponsors:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2024/S310a
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2024/a4819a
7. What is the timeline?
This Legislative Session runs from January-June. This means that the Higher Education Committee in both houses must put this bill on their agendas, pass it, and move it to the full assembly and senate for a vote. We believe THIS is the year when it has the highest chance of being passed. NEW YORK NEEDS MORE MIDWIVES - AND CPM's PROVIDE A SOLUTION TO THE MATERNITY CARE CRISIS!
8. What do you need from New York constituents?
All of the below:
1. Text "NYCPM" to 50409 to send an automated letter to your local representative!
2. Sign the letter of support below, and send a copy to the Higher Education Committee
https://forms.gle/oKkyecWsf18LWvXK7
3. Call your Senator and Assembly member
4. Call the Chair of the Senate Higher ed. committee and urge them to put S310A on their agenda
Senate: Toby Ann Stavisky
[email protected]
142-29 37th AveSuite 1
Flushing, NY 11354
Phone: (718) 445-0004
Fax: (718) 445-8398
5. SHARE these steps on social media, email, text, and word of mouth
9. How can people who do not live in New York help?
1. Sign the letter of support to the Higher Education Committee who is currently sitting on our bill!
https://forms.gle/oKkyecWsf18LWvXK7
2. SHARE the movement on social media, email, text, and word of mouth.
You can find us at
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NYCPM501c4
Instagram: @NYCPM.inc
Website: www.nycpmidwives.org