Read the stories of midwives negatively affected by the
requirement for a written practice agreement

When the MMA passes, midwives will continue to be able to obtain professional liability insurance (medical malpractice insurance) from various carriers.
Please contact us for more information.

The Midwifery Modernization Act has broad support:

• Read about state-wide consumer support at Free Our Midwives
  
• An online petition to support the MMA has received over 4,700 signatures!! Read what New Yorker's have to say
  
• Physicians across the state support the MMA
  
• Amnesty International
  
• New York State Perinatal Association (NYSPA)
  
• Nurse Practitioner Association of New York State
  
• New York State Nurse's Association

• American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM)
  • News Release
  • Letter of Support
    
• National Organization for Women (NOW)- New York City
  
• National Organization for Women (NOW) - New York State
  
• New York Friends of Midwives 
  
• Ithaca Health Alliance
  
• Rochester Area Birth Network
  
• BirthNet
  
• BirthNet of the Finger Lakes
  
• International Cesarean Action Network
  (ICAN) of the Capital District
  
• SUNY Downstate Midwifery Education Program
  
• Doulas of Ithaca
  
• Prenatal Yoga with Diane Fine, Ithaca
  
• Common Sense Breastfeeding, Ithaca

Media coverage

NYSALM gets legislators attention in the Legislative Gazette (scroll to Page 5)

The New York Times, June 17th - Doctors’ Group Fights a Bill That Would Ease Restrictions on Midwives

The Syracuse Post-Standard, June 18th - Midwives hope New York state delivers right to practice on their own

Albany Times Union, June 18th - Doctors say bill endangers lives

Long Island Business News, June 18th - Midwives push for independence

Scrubs: The Nurse's Guide to Good Living, June 18th - Midwifery Modernization Act

DNAinfo: Manhattan Local News, June 18th - More Midwives May Soon Be Practicing in Manhattan if Bill Passes

Medical News Today, June 17th - American College Of Nurse-Midwives Urges Passage Of The Midwifery Modernization Act

Albany News 10 - WTEN, June 17th - Controversy surrounding the current midwifery laws continues

Albany Times Union, June 12th - Seeking independent practices

Legislative Gazette, April 2010 - Midwives want more autonomy

Metroland Online: The Alternative Newsweekly of New York's Capital Region, April 2010 - Free the Midwives

Blogs:

Human Rights Now: The Amnesty International USA Blog

My Best Birth: A Blog From Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein

New York Press

Choices in Childbirth

On the Wilder Side

Marvelous Kiddo

Infinitely Learning

Wellsphere

How you can help

Urge the Governor to sign the MMA into law!

Talk to physicians you know:

Many Obstetrician/Gynecologists support our effort to remove the written practice agreement. They know we are safe, independent health care providers who refer and consult as needed, according to our scope of practice, and a signed agreement doesn't mean safer care but implies supervision. They understand that many physicians feel that, by signing, they are vicariously liable for any malpractice litigation against their collaborating midwife. They know that some physicians are limited by the regulations of their malpractice insurance company as to with whom they can collaborate. For all these reasons and more, ask supportive physicians you know to write a letter of support for our bill and to let ACOG know that they support New York midwives. You'll find a template letter for physicians here.

Share your time and ideas:

We invite all midwives and interested consumers to attend our board meetings in Albany. If you have ideas you want to share or can volunteer your time to help, we would love to hear from you. You can email us or call the NYSALM phone at 518-852-7965

We can't do this without your financial support:

The vast majority of the monetary support we receive through membership and donations is used to pay our lobbyists. They are our vital connection to Albany and their contact with legislators and guidance on how to be most effective is crucial to our success. Please join or renew your membership for the next 12 months or make a donation to our legislative fund. Clients and other supporters can join as associate members or donate through our membership page.