BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1306
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 13, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
AB
1306 (Burke) - As Introduced February 27, 2015
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|Policy |Business and Professions |Vote:|14 - 0 |
|Committee: | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------|
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------|
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: YesReimbursable:
No
SUMMARY:
This bill removes the physician supervision requirement for
certified nurse midwives (CNMs) and some related requirements,
such as the requirement to dispense drugs pursuant to a
standardized procedure or protocol. It also requires the Board
AB 1306
Page 2
of Registered Nursing (BRN) to convene a Nurse-Midwifery
Advisory Council and hold, at minimum, two meetings yearly.
FISCAL EFFECT:
1)Minor costs to the BRN Fund for advisory council meetings.
2)Potential impact on BRN enforcement costs is unclear, but will
likely be minor, as removing the requirement for supervision
does not significantly change the practice of midwifery.
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. According to the author, this bill creates parity in
the law between licensed midwives and CNMs by removing the
physician supervision requirements for CNMs, allowing them to
practice independently within their scope of practice. If
signed into law, CNMs will be able to provide a full range of
services for women in all settings. This bill is sponsored by
the California Nurse Midwives Association.
2)Background. Midwifery is the care of childrearing women
during pregnancy, labor and birth and during the postpartum
period. Midwifery services are offered by CNMs, who are
regulated by the BRN and Licensed Midwives (LMs) who are
regulated by the Medical Board of California (MBC). While
both CNMs and LMs practice midwifery, there are differences in
their education requirements, practice settings and
supervision requirements. Generally CNMs have a higher level
of education and training than LMs. LMs can practice in home,
birth centers and clinics. CNMs can practice in the same
settings, but, unlike LMs, they can also practice in hospital
settings.
3)Prior Related Legislation. AB 1308 (Bonilla), Chapter 665,
AB 1306
Page 3
Statutes of 2013, removed physician supervision requirements
for licensed midwives.
4)Opposition. The California Medical Association (CMA) opposes
the bill unless amended to include additional protections
related to the corporate practice of medicine, self-referral
and anti-kickback prohibitions, standards of care and
prescribing oversight.
Analysis Prepared by:Lisa Murawski / APPR. / (916)
319-2081