A midwifery board would set rules for New Jersey midwives

The State Board of Midwifery would oversee midwives. The board would oversee certified midwives, certified nurse midwives, and certified professional midwives in New Jersey. Seven of the board’s 11 members would be midwives. The sections setting up the board would operate upon enactment.

Midwives would need consulting agreements and written care guidelines developed with their consulting doctors before practicing. The consulting doctor must be licensed in New Jersey. The doctor must have hospital permission to perform surgery involving childbirth and female reproductive organs, or a binding agreement with a doctor who does. If the midwife does not provide pregnancy or birth care, hospital permission to provide care for female reproductive organs would be enough. These requirements would begin on the first day of the sixth month after the board adopts its rules.

Licensed midwives would have to carry malpractice insurance. Coverage must total $1 million per incident and $3 million per policy year. Coverage must come from an insurer authorized to sell malpractice insurance in New Jersey. Policies that cover claims based on when they are reported must include coverage for later reports, unless renewal coverage keeps the original date from which past care is covered. The insurance requirement would begin on the first day of the sixth month after the board adopts its rules.