2013 -- S 0276

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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A N A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH SERVICES

     Introduced By: Senators Miller, Sosnowski, Jabour, Goldin, and Cool Rumsey

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2013

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 23-13-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-13 entitled "Maternal

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and Child Health Services for Children with Special Health Care Needs" is hereby amended to

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read as follows:

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     23-13-9. Licensing and regulation of midwives -- Penalty for violations. -- The state

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director of health is authorized and directed to make rules for the regulation of the practice of

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midwifery and for the licensing of midwives, including regulations which require the payment of

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an initial application fee equal to that fee which is imposed upon applicants for licensure as nurse

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practitioners and a renewal fee also equivalent to that for nurse practitioners. The rules regarding

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the regulation of the practice of midwifery shall authorize a licensed nurse-midwife certified by

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the american midwifery certification board to prescribe medications that might be reasonably

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required by his or her patients; provided however, that a nurse- the midwife shall prescribe any of

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those medications as authorized by a list prepared by the director of health. The provisions of this

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section relating to prescription by nurse-midwives shall be overseen by the department of health.

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No person not a licensed midwife or a physician, registered under the provisions of chapter 37 of

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title 5, shall practice midwifery or shall make a practice of attending women in childbirth for hire,

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or use the name or title of midwife. Any person who violates the provisions of this section or who

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violates any of the rules of the department of health made in pursuance of this section shall be

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fined not more than one hundred dollars ($100), or imprisoned not more than six (6) months, or

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both, and the director of health may revoke the license issued to any person when, in the opinion

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of the director of health, that person is guilty of unprofessional conduct.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH SERVICES

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     This act would authorize only midwives certified by the American Midwifery

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Certification Board to prescribe medications authorized by the department of health to his or her

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patient. Nurse-midwives would no longer be authorized under this statute.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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