§ 34-19-16 — Where Care May Be Performed; Required Forms an Duties of Licensed Midwife

(a) A licensed midwife may provide midwifery care in the setting of the client’s choice, except a hospital.
(b) A licensed midwife shall ensure that the client has signed a midwife disclosure form provided by the board indicating receipt of a written statement that includes all of the following information:
(1) A description of the licensed midwife’s education, training, and experience in midwifery.
(2) Antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum conditions requiring medical referral, transfer of care, and transport to a hospital.
(3) A plan for medical referral, transfer of care, and transport of the client or newborn or both when indicated by specific antepartum, intrapartum, or postpartum conditions.
(4) Instructions for filing a complaint against a licensed midwife.
(5) A statement that the licensed midwife must comply with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
(6) The status of a licensed midwife’s professional liability insurance coverage.
(7) References to current evidence regarding the safety of midwifery care in out-of-hospital settings, including a copy of the most recent statement by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists on home birth.
(c) A licensed midwife shall ensure that the client has signed an informed consent form provided by the board.
(d) For screening purposes only, a licensed midwife may order routine antepartum and postpartum laboratory analyses to be performed by a licensed laboratory.
(e) After a client has secured the services of a licensed midwife, the licensed midwife shall document an emergency care plan on a form provided by the board.
(f) A licensed midwife shall determine the progress of labor and, when birth is imminent, shall be available until delivery is accomplished.
(g) A licensed midwife shall remain with the client during the postpartal period until the conditions of the client and newborn are stabilized.
(h) A licensed midwife shall instruct the client regarding the requirements of the administration of eye ointment ordered by the Department of Public Health pursuant to Section 22-20-2.
(i) A licensed midwife shall instruct the client regarding the requirements of administration of newborn health screening ordered by the Department of Public Health pursuant to Section 22-20-3.
(j) A licensed midwife shall file a birth certificate for each birth in accordance with the requirements of Section 22-9A-7.
(k) A licensed midwife shall collect clinical data under the Midwives Alliance of North America Statistics Project for each client who initiates care and shall submit a copy of the clinical data collected for each consenting client to the board upon request.
(l) A licensed midwife shall report to the Alabama Department of Public Health pursuant to Chapter 11A, of Title 22, and any other law that requires hospitals or physicians to report to the Alabama Department of Public Health.
(m) A licensed midwife shall provide all information required to be provided to new mothers pursuant to Section 22-20-3.1, and all information required to be provided to new mothers before discharge by hospitals, as defined in Section 22-21-20.
(n) A licensed midwife shall order those tests provided in Section 22-20-3 and any rule adopted by the State Board of Health pursuant to that section relating to the newborn screening program, to all neonates in his or her care.
(o) A licensed midwife may order and administer a urinalysis or blood glucose test as indicated.

Legislative History

(Act 2017-383, §2.)