ACNM, AMA, and ACOG Leaders Meet as Follow-up to 2008 Resolutions

On January 22, 2009, ACNM leaders had the opportunity to sit down with senior representatives of the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). The meeting was convened by AMA in response to ACNM's August 2008 letter to the AMA, in which ACNM voiced concern about aspects of three newly-adopted AMA Resolutions: Resolution 204: Midwifery Scope of Practice and Licensure; 205: Home Deliveries; and 214: Doctor of Nursing Practice. All three resolutions were passed by the AMA House of Delegates in June 2008.

Learn more about the resolutions and ACNM's August 2008 letter to AMA.

Noting that midwifery is an autonomous profession, ACNM restated our strong opposition to the use of legislative and regulatory language requiring physician supervision, control or oversight of midwifery practice, including physician supervision of midwives with a clinical doctoral degree. We also reiterated our strongly held position that women be allowed to choose their site of birth, be attended by qualified providers, and have access to a seamless system of appropriate levels of care. ACNM has urged AMA and ACOG to work with ACNM to enhance the quality of maternity care in the US, including taking steps to improve the continuity of care for the approximately 25,000 women currently choosing homebirth each year.

AMA and ACOG have expressed high regard for ACNM's standards of practice and commitment to quality care. It is clear that successfully addressing the growing challenges in providing a qualified maternity care workforce will require new levels of cooperation and inter-disciplinary education between the ob/gyn and CNM/CM communities.

ACNM will continue its ongoing dialogues with leadership of both organizations to further improvements in women’s health and maternity care.