Testimony of the American College of Nurse-Midwives on national health insurance as submitted to The House Ways and Means Committee: April 8, 1975

Abstract

1. The American College of Nurse-Midwives is the professional organization of Certified Nurse-Midwives in the U.S.A. The ACNM is dedicated to the improvement of health care to the mothers and babies of America, through professional midwifery services as provided by the Certified Nurse-Midwife. 2. The Certified Nurse-Midwife is a Registered Nurse who has successfully completed a midwifery educational program and who has passed the examination for Certification given by the ACNM. The CNM practices normal obstetrics, routine gynecology, and infant care within the framework of a medically directed health service. 3. It has been well documented that Certified Nurse-Midwives have contributed for 50 years to quality care for mothers and babies in the U.S.A. 4. ACNM is concerned that the present national health insurance bills do not adequately speak on two issues: 1) The proposed bills do not sufficiently cover the needs for preventive health care services for the mothers and babies of our country; 2) No provision is presently made in any national health insurance bills for recognition of and payment for the services of Certified Nurse-Midwives. 5. Without separate, specific recognition for the Certified Nurse-Midwives' care in any national health insurance bill, the close collaborative services provided by the physician/Certified Nurse-midwife team is less likely to fluorish in our country. This would deny us the possibility of truly improving the health care services to our mothers and babies. 6. The ACNM strongly urges that professional midwifery services, as provided by the Certified Nurse-Midwife, should be identified and listed as a separate reimbursable category in any national health insurance bill being considered.