To my fellow NJ midwives –
Midwives in NJ are losing their ability to practice because they are not finding physicians to sign collaborative practice agreements. Some New Jersey Midwives are submitting waivers to the Board of Medical Examiners to waive this requirement.
You have the opportunity to support your colleagues and help advance the profession in New Jersey. Please consider voicing your support for these waivers at the next (virtual) Midwifery Liaison Committee meeting on January 4th.
Independent Practice for midwives is evidence-based and supported by both the ACNM and ACOG. Appropriate consultation and collaboration are cornerstones of the midwifery model of care. Requiring a documented collaborative relationship is restricting our practice and limiting care of birthing people across the state. It is also not evidence-based.
Please join the Public Session of the Midwifery Liaison Committee on Tuesday January 4th at 10am to voice your support for these midwives in getting waivers to practice to their full scope.
You must submit a written comment by 5pm on Monday, January 3rd at 5pm in order to speak publicly at the meeting. Any public comments should be submitted by 5:00 PM on Monday, January 3rd, 2022 by emailing the Executive Director, Antonia Winstead, at BMEDIRECTOR@dca.lps.state.nj.us. The email should contain the name of the person submitting the comments and in the subject line reference “ MIDWIFERY LIAISON COMMITTEE MEETING.”
If you have any questions or would like to discuss the role of full practice authority further, please feel free to reach out to me!
For the public to participate in the meeting, from your computer, tablet or smartphone –
Meeting ID: 160 375 1647
Passcode: 840339
Dial by your location
+1 669 254 5252 US (San Jose)
+1 646 828 7666 US (New York)
+1 669 216 1590 US (San Jose)
+1 551 285 1373 US
Meeting ID: 160 375 1647
Passcode: 840339
Arielle (Cheifetz) Elias, MSN, CNM, WHNP-BC
Legislative Chair
New Jersey Affiliate of the ACNM