CNM physician supervision california

[sepo81]

Recently in California licensed midwives were able to have the physician supervision requirement removed. Does anyone know if there are any changes in the works for Nurse midwives in regard to removing physician supervision?

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

thread moved for best response

[queenanneslace, ADN, MSN, APRN, CNM]

I thought this was an interesting discussion of what 'supervision' means - or doesn't mean - to California CNMs.

I know this is language that nurse-midwives in CA are working on changing.

http://california.midwife.org/california/files/ccLibraryFiles/Filename/000000000173/Supervisioncopy.pdf

[LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM]

I actually just read an article about this in a recent ACNM newsletter. As an aside, I had no idea CPMs were licensed in CA.

Apparently CNMs in CA feel that there is little chance they can pass similar legislation to eliminate physician supervision requirements. The CPMs were able to pass their law with ACOG support because it reduced liability to physicians collaborating with those midwives. Basically the docs didn't WANT to have to supervise the CPMs, so supported a bill that eliminated that requirement.

However, CA nurse practitioners recently tried to pass a bill to eliminate physician supervision, and lobbyists from the state medical society paid tons of money to politicians to rally opposition and work against the bill, on the grounds that it would lead to "unpredictable outcomes, higher costs, and greater fragmentation of care." Because of that, it is anticipated that CNMs would face similar opposition.

The article provided a link to a full analysis at Health Policy