Midwives Applaud Legislation to Improve Birth Outcomes Utilizing Best Evidence

I've been a bit remiss in blogging....kinda been busy catching babies left and right! Wanted to share some more great news initially released July 22nd, 2010.

New legislation being introduced,“Maximizing Optimal Maternity Services for the 21st Century Act of 2010 (MOMS 21)” (H.R.5807), is being applauded by the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM). This legislation will call for the best evidence-based practice to be used in imrpoving maternal health outcomes.

“As we implement health care reform over the coming years, it is imperative that clinicians, researchers, and policymakers work together to improve the quality of health care while also lowering costs,” asserts ACNM President Holly Kennedy, PhD., CNM, FACNM, FAAN. “We have clearly identified the most important evidence-based practices that result in a healthy mother and baby by reducing complications and unnecessary interventions in childbirth. These practices generally are also more cost‐effective, but there are obstacles blocking their adoption. We commend Rep. Roybal‐Allard for making improved maternal health in the U.S. a high priority and for introducing legislation with a defining, unifying principle of support for evidence‐based practice.”

The MOMS 21 bill would:

•Create a national focus on maternity services by establishing an interagency coordinating committee to promote optimal maternit care by all federal agencies involved with the delivery of health services.


•Expand federal research on best maternity practices by establishing a Center for Excellence on Optimal Maternity Outcomes and drecting the Center for Innovation within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to focus additional research on cost‐effective, high‐quality maternity care models

•Develop a comprehensive online database for consumers and health care providers containing up‐to‐date systematic reviews of maternal and newborn care practices

• Authorize a national consumer education campaign to inform women about evidence‐based maternity care practices
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•Support the education of a more culturally diverse interdisciplinary maternity care workforce with the establishment of targete federal grant programs and an aggressive educational loan repayment program focused on maternity care shortage areas

“Certified nurse‐midwives (CNMs) and certified midwives (CMs) are leading experts in evidence‐based maternity care practices associated with excellent maternal and infant outcomes,” said ACNM Executive Director Lorrie Kline Kaplan. “ACNM is working with federal policymakers to increase the number of skilled midwives and increase access to midwifery care in te U.S. Leading international organizations have also recently issued a united call to increase the number of skilled midwives as themost important policy solution for improving maternal and infant outcomes worldwide.”