The Alabama Midwives Alliance (ALMA) is advocating for a bill to clarify the role of licensed midwives in conducting newborn screenings for out-of-hospital births. Currently, midwives can order required newborn tests but must refer babies to a licensed physician within 24 hours for screening, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health’s rules. These screenings include bloodspot tests, hearing tests, and pulse oximetry tests.
Nancy Megginson, a licensed and certified professional midwife, highlighted the confusion surrounding the law and its impact on newborns. “The babies are the ones suffering from it,” she said. Senate Bill 87 seeks to allow licensed midwives to not only order but also administer these tests.
In hospitals, screenings are typically done before discharge, but babies born outside of hospitals face delays in accessing these tests due to the need for follow-up appointments with physicians. Megginson emphasized that midwives are trained to administer these simple screenings, which are essential for identifying critical health issues in newborns.
In Alabama, 23 out of 67 counties lack licensed pediatricians, and in 2024, over 400 babies were delivered at home with licensed midwives. The screenings help detect conditions such as congenital heart defects, hearing loss, and metabolic disorders, all of which require prompt treatment to prevent severe health complications.
The bill also includes adjustments to language from a 2017 law that legalized midwifery practice in Alabama. While midwives have agreed to delay some changes regarding birthing centers and insurance, they are pushing strongly for the newborn screenings provision.
A lawsuit filed against the Alabama Department of Public Health in August 2023 challenged certain rules related to birthing centers. A judge issued a preliminary injunction in October 2023, blocking the enforcement of those rules.
SB87 had a public hearing but no vote yet. A vote is expected on March 19.
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