
Legislative Updates
We Need You! 2025 General Assembly Session, Jan 8th - Feb 12th
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​VMA is partnered with Virginia ACNM this legislative session in support of the following maternity bills.​
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1) Medicaid and Insurance Reimbursement Parity (HB1923) - This is a bill and budget amendment co-sponsored by VMA. The BILL will require insurance providers in VA to reimburse LCMs and LMs at 100% of the fee schedule for services just like CNMs already receive. The BUDGET AMENDMENT will require DMAS to reimburse LCMs and LMs at 100% of the fee schedule as fee-for-service providers just like CNMs already receive. These initiatives are essential to expanding access to midwifery care through practice sustainability and patient access.
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2) CM Clean Up (HB1635 Cole/SB1352 Srinivasan): This bill will bring licensure for CMs in-line with CNM licensure, also essential to expanding access to midwifery care through allowing autonomous practice for CMs.
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Virginia Interfaith for Public Policy, as part of the PUSH Coalition, is bringing forward bills related to:
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1) Keep Labor and Delivery Units Open (HB 1904 Willett): this bill enables nursery and OB units to remain open with CNMs/LMs and NPs with pediatric privileges. Current regulations require a physician with pediatric privileges to be available 24/7 within 30min of the facility. If no physician is available, the entire units, including labor and delivery, will temporarily close even if they have CNMs or other pediatric or neonatal nurse practitioners available to meet the needs of a general care nursery.
2) Presumptive Eligibility for Pregnant Women (SB 831/HB 2102): reduces barriers to getting Medicaid so that people who are expected to be eligible can begin care, and you can be reimbursed for services, even before the insurance is active.
3) Budget Amendment to Expand Medicaid Services to Incarcerated Pregnant Women (Sen. Locke and Del. Coyner): Recommends that the General Assembly allow pregnant individuals to access Medicaid while incarcerated. This assures continuity of care while inside and outside the criminal justice system.
4) Unconscious Bias/Cultural Competency Training (SB 740 Locke, Head/HB 1649 Hayes, Coyner). Unconscious bias has been repeatedly identified as a factor contributing to lower health care quality for Black Americans. Make evidence-based unconscious bias and cultural competency training criterion for licensing for all health care professionals licensed by the Virginia Board of Medicine.
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To help:​
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Schedule a meeting with your legislator NOW!
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Follow Virginia Midwives Alliance on social media for additional updates
Virginia midwives have come far in the 17 years since our initial licensure bill was passed. Our law in Virginia is, in our opinion, the best midwifery law in the United States. Our licensure law allows us to legally practice autonomously and with evidence-based informed consent, but it prohibited us from using the medications that make community birth safer. With the removal of the prohibition against the use of medications within our scope of practice, our law is a model for other states.