I am the former and first Executive Director of the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) and I am writing to express my support for licensure and regulation as proposed for licensed, certified midwives (CMs) in Virginia.

The Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education is an agency established to advance and promote excellence in midwifery education. The aim of ACME is to ensure that programs are performing at the highest level of quality and providing learning experiences that will lead to optimal outcomes for midwifery students. ACME is a reliable authority regarding midwifery education. Since 1982, ACME has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USED) as a nationally recognized programmatic accrediting agency for nurse-midwifery and midwifery education programs. In May 2018, ACME was awarded the maximum five-year recognition for remaining in full compliance with the USED requirements. 

The goal of accreditation is to ensure that institutions of higher education meet acceptable levels of quality.  ACME creates and develops rigorous standards for the CM and the CNM educational programs in the US to ensure high-quality education for midwives. There is no difference in the accreditation standards for these credentialed professional maternal healthcare provider's education. In addition, both credentials take the same certification exam offered by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB). The American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB) is the national certifying body for candidates in nurse-midwifery and midwifery who have received their graduate-level education in programs accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME). 

In Virginia in 2021, 79.3% of infants were born to women receiving adequate/adequate plus prenatal care. More than 2.2 million women live in maternal healthcare deserts in our country. This is unacceptable in particular for a country that spends the most money on maternal healthcare and has dismal outcomes with high maternal mortality rates. 

Maternity care deserts are counties where access to maternity health care services is limited or absent, either through lack of services or barriers to a woman's ability to access that care within counties. A maternity care desert is any county in the United States without a hospital or birth center offering obstetric care and without any obstetric providers.

It is imperative to Virginians that we expand the number of maternal healthcare providers to ensure that pregnant people have access to high-quality, evidence-based maternal healthcare. Midwives play a vital role in promoting positive maternal and newborn health outcomes.

Licensed certified midwives (CMs) provide comprehensive, evidence-based care throughout the childbirth continuum, sexual and reproductive health, gynecologic and primary care throughout the lifespan focusing on preventive measures, health promotion, and personalized care. Exactly the same as the Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM). 

Licensed certified midwives are equipped with the same advanced practice midwifery skill-set and certification as Certified Nurse-Midwives who have successfully been licensed in the state for many years. Licensure of certified midwives is crucial to strengthening the healthcare workforce by diversifying and increasing the range of available healthcare practitioners. By recognizing the “CM credential”, we ensure that Virginians have access to a range of healthcare options that align with their preferences and values, promoting patient-centered care.