Sponsor Statement for SB 238

Board of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives

The Board of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives was established by ch. 130, SLA 1992. SB 238 extends the Board another 4 years to June 30, 2002.

The Board is tasked with the following duties:

• examining applicants and issuing certificates to qualified applicants
• issue permits to apprentice direct-entry midwives
• report annually to the governor and the department
• approve curricula and adopt standards for basic education, training and apprentice programs

The Legislative Audit of the Board points out two problems with the board:

• high fees, and
• although Medicaid eligible providers, no method for Medicaid reimbursement has been embraced by the Department of Health and Social Services and the Legislature.

The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee introduced the bill to ensure the extension could be considered by the Legislature.