Background: HB 257 seeks to expand access to midwifery care by authorizing the State Board of Midwifery to accept gifts and grants, increasing potential funding sources for midwifery services. The bill also allows licensed midwives to practice in freestanding birth centers, providing additional options for expectant families seeking alternatives to hospital births. Additionally, it grants midwives the authority to administer certain newborn screening tests, ensuring infants receive critical early health assessments.
Our Position: The ACLU of Alabama supports HB 257. Alabama faces a severe maternal healthcare crisis, ranking among the worst states for maternal mortality, particularly for Black pregnant people. Expanding midwifery services can help alleviate this crisis by increasing access to holistic, community-based perinatal care. The World Health Organization estimates that midwifery services could prevent over 80% of maternal and neonatal deaths, underscoring the necessity of integrating midwives into maternal healthcare. Additionally, as the U.S. faces a projected OB-GYN shortage, with an estimated 5,000 obstetricians expected to leave the workforce in the next 12 years. Strengthening midwifery care offers a practical and evidence-based solution to support expectant families across Alabama.
