How expanding the role of midwives in U.S. health care could help address the maternal health crisis

Highlights:

• Midwives, incorporated fully into U.S. maternity care systems, could reduce perinatal health disparities and help address provider workforce shortages.
• The integration of midwifery care as a standard feature of maternity care services varies dramatically across states; outcomes for mothers and infants tend to be better in states with high levels of integration.
• Although the demand for midwives is growing — especially racially and ethnically diverse midwives — it remains largely unmet. Black childbearing people experience the biggest gap between demand and access.
• Legislation and regulations restricting autonomous practice, lack of federal funding for education and training, and inequitable Medicaid reimbursement rates all limit broad access to midwifery care. (author introduction) #P4HEwebinarOctober2024