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.
