Current with changes from the 2024 Legislative Session
Section 8-6C-01 - Definitions(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.(b) "ACME" means the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education, or a successor organization that is an accrediting agency for nurse-midwifery and direct-entry midwifery education programs and is approved by the United States Department of Education.(c) "AIMM" means the Association of Independent Midwives of Maryland or a successor organization that is a professional organization representing independent midwives in the State.(d) "Board" means the State Board of Nursing.(e) "Committee" means the Direct-Entry Midwifery Advisory Committee established under § 8-6C-11 of this subtitle.(f) "Health care practitioner" means:(1) An individual certified as a nurse-midwife or a nurse practitioner under this title; or(2) A physician licensed under Title 14 of this article.(g)(1) "Health care provider" means a health care practitioner or a hospital.(2) "Health care provider" includes agents or employees of a health care practitioner or a hospital.(h) "Hospital" has the meaning stated in § 19-301 of the Health - General Article.(i) "License" means, unless the context requires otherwise, a license issued by the Board to practice direct-entry midwifery.(j)(1) "Licensed direct-entry midwife" means an individual who has been granted a license under this subtitle to practice direct-entry midwifery.(2) "Licensed direct-entry midwife" does not include a licensed nurse certified as a nurse-midwife under this title.(k) "Low-risk pregnancy" means a pregnancy, labor, and delivery and postpartum, newborn, and interconceptional care that does not include a condition that requires a mandatory transfer under § 8-6C-03.(l) "MEAC" means the Midwifery Education and Accreditation Council, or a successor organization that is a national accreditation agency for midwifery education approved by the United States Department of Education.(m) "NARM" means the North American Registry of Midwives, or a successor organization that is an international certification agency that establishes and administers certification for the certified professional midwife credential.(n)(1) "Patient" means a woman for whom a licensed direct-entry midwife performs services.(2) "Patient" includes a woman's newborn for the purpose of perinatal or postpartum care.(o) "Postpartum period" means the first 6 weeks after delivery.(p)(1) "Practice direct-entry midwifery" means: (i) Providing maternity care that is consistent with a midwife's training, education, and experience; and(ii) Identifying and referring patients who require medical care to an appropriate health care provider.(2) "Practice direct-entry midwifery" includes the activities described in § 8-6C-02 of this subtitle.Added by 2015 Md. Laws, Ch. 393,Sec. 1, eff. 6/1/2015.