(a)Upon appropriation from the Legislature, the Department of Health Care Access and Information shall administer funding for a statewide study on midwifery education. The study shall be conducted by an outside consultant familiar with the health care and midwifery landscapes and workforce in California.
(b)This study shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(1)An evaluation of status and trends in midwifery education in California and the United States.
(2)Financial sustainability plan, including long-term education program financing, cost of educating midwives in California, and the options
for financial stability of midwifery education.
(3)Assess available state and federal funding resources to cover student tuition and fees, and report on average student d
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(a)
Upon appropriation from the Legislature, the Department of Health Care Access and Information shall administer funding for a statewide study on midwifery education. The study shall be conducted by an outside consultant familiar with the health care and midwifery landscapes and workforce in California.
(b)
This study shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(1)
An evaluation of status and trends in midwifery education in California and the United States.
(2)
Financial sustainability plan, including long-term education program financing, cost of educating midwives in California, and the options
for financial stability of midwifery education.
(3)
Assess available state and federal funding resources to cover student tuition and fees, and report on average student debt per program upon program completion.
(4)
Identify and propose pathways to diversify the midwifery student pipeline.
(5)
Assess the opportunities, challenges, and support needs of prospective students, current students, and preceptors.
(6)
Identify institutions and programs of study that are equipped to house midwifery education programs, including those outside of schools of nursing.
(7)
Identify viable education programs that can serve both rural and urban geographic areas.
(8)
Consider education consortium models that pool resources to support student didactic education and allow them to stay in their communities while completing their education.
(9)
Identify and propose solutions to address the shortage of clinical preceptors and precepting sites.
(10)
Identify sites for interprofessional education between resident obstetricians and midwives.
(11)
Consider innovations in education and training that allow nurse-midwives and licensed midwives to train together, with separate exit requirements specific to their path.
(12)
Ensure that proposed solutions for midwifery education meet the needs of California birthing families and future midwives.
(13)
Current and projected needs for midwifery and reproductive health care professionals.
(14)
Assessment of jobs available for new graduates and projected growth.
(c)
(1)
The department shall submit a report from the study’s findings to the Legislature.
(2)
The report shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(d)
The department shall post the report on the department’s internet website, and shall notify all persons in the department’s reproductive health and maternity care electronic mailing list no later than 36 months after the actual appropriation of funds to the department.
(e)
For purposes of this section, “reproductive health care professionals” means medical doctors, licensed midwives, certified nurse-midwives, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, physician’s assistants, doulas, licensed vocational nurses, and perinatal community health workers.