Advocacy

Position Statement on State Licensure

NARM is dedicated to advancing the profession of midwifery by supporting legal recognition at the state and federal level. To aid in the ef­forts to educate the public and policy makers regarding the pur­pose and advantages of CPM licensure at the state level, NARM has issued the following Statement on Licensure.

A few facts about CPMs

Midwives are the key to increasing access to effective maternity care:
  • The American Public Health Association and the World Health Organization recommends midwives as the primary maternity care providers for the majority of women
  • Nations with the lowest infant mortality employ midwives as the primary maternity care providers for the majority of women
  • Mounting evidence supports the value and cost-savings potential of midwifery care, according to a report issued by the Washington Department of Health in 2010
  • Birth centers and planned home births have been shown to be safe for low-risk women, with demonstrated potential to significantly reduce costs to the system
  • CPMs are currently legally recognized in 28 states and own approximately half of the birth centers in the U.S.