Page 6 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – WEDnESDAy, JUly 3, 2024 Representative Wong supports maternal health care bill to expand access to non-hospital childbirth options B OSTON – State Representative Donald Wong (R-Saugus) recently supported legislation to expand access to non-hospital childbirth options for expectant parents in Massachusetts and establish a formal licensing process for certifi ed professional midwives and lactation consultants. House Bill 4773, An Act promoting access to midwifery care and out-of-hospital birth options, also provides for postpartum depression screenings and requires the Department of Public Health (DPH) to establish a program to conduct fetal and infant mortality reviews. The bill was engrossed by the House of Representatives on a vote of 153-0 on Need a hall for your special event? The Schiavo Club, located at 71 Tileston Street, Everett is available for your Birthdays, Anniversaries, Sweet 16 parties and more? For more info, call (857) 249-7882 June 20. Representative Wong noted that House Bill 4773 incorporates recommendations made by the Special Commission on Racial Inequities in Maternal Health, which was created in 2021 to investigate and study ways to reduce or eliminate racial inequities in maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity in the Commonwealth. According to the State House News Service, from 2011 to 2020 the severe maternal morbidity rate in Massachusetts nearly doubled, with the highest rate of complications experienced by Black women. According to Representative Wong, House Bill 4773 establishes a Board of Registration in Midwifery, which will be responsible for establishing and administering the licensure process for midwives, including establishing an exam and processing applications and Celebrating Our 52nd Year Dan - 1972 Happy July 4th! We are Open! MAJOR BRANDS AT DISCOUNT PRICES! Singles * Tins Green Label Sale Buy 2 Cigars, Get One FREE! 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All applicants must complete a formal midwifery education and training program, possess a valid certifi ed professional midwife credential from the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM), and satisfactorily complete the board-required exam. House Bill 4773 also expands the Board of Allied Health Professionals from 11 to 15 members appointed by the governor by adding 3 licensed lactation consultants and 1 additional licensed physician to the board. Representative Wong said that under the House bill, the board must establish examination procedures for the licensing of lactation consultants, with all applications required to be certifi ed by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners. The bill allows for the licensure of a lactation consultant or certified professional midwife, without examination, if they are licensed in another state that has the same requirements as Massachusetts. Representative Wong said House Bill 4773 also establishes a task force on maternal health access and birthing patient safety in response to the increasing number of birthing facility closures. The task force will study past essential services closures for inpatient maternity units and acute-level birthing centers, and closures of community-based or offi ce-based maternal health care, as well as patient quality and safety considerations of essential service closures of maternal care units, with a fi nal report due by September 1, 2025. Under the House bill, DPH will be required to establish a program to conduct an indepth fetal and infant mortality review to help identify social, economic and systems factors associated with fetal and infant deaths and inform public health policy programs. DPH will also be required to develop and maintain a comprehensive digital resource center on perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, which must be made available to the public. House Bill 4773 also: requires the Division of Medical Assistance (DMA) to provide coverage for midwifery services including prenatal care, childbirth and postpartum care provided by a licensed midwife regardless of where the services are delivered; requires MassHealth and insurance policies off ered in Massachusetts to cover postpartum depression screenings conducted by primary care providers, obstetricians, gynecologists, certifi ed nurse-midwives, licensed midwives, and pediatricians; HEALTH CARE | SEE PAGE 15
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