Advocacy
Building a Policy Environment where CPMs are Fully Integrated into the Healthcare system
NACPM’s advocacy work focuses on advancing policies that expand access to Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) and strengthen community-based perinatal care across the United States. As the national professional organization representing CPMs, NACPM works to ensure that laws, regulations, and health system policies support safe, integrated, and equitable midwifery care.
A central priority of NACPM’s advocacy is achieving licensure for CPMs in all states and territories and strengthening existing regulatory frameworks where CPMs are already recognized. Licensure enables midwives to practice within an accountable, integrated health system and allows families to access midwifery care as part of coordinated perinatal services. NACPM provides technical assistance to state advocates, midwifery organizations, and policymakers developing or improving midwifery legislation, including drafting bill language, producing policy briefing papers, and facilitating collaboration among stakeholders.
NACPM also works at the federal level to advance policies that support the growth and sustainability of the community midwifery workforce. This includes efforts to secure federal recognition of the CPM credential, TRICARE and IHS expansion, improve reimbursement pathways, and integrate community-based midwives into national education and perinatal health initiatives. Through partnerships with national coalitions, research organizations, and public health leaders, NACPM ensures that the voice and expertise of community midwives inform perinatal health policy discussions.
In addition to legislative advocacy, NACPM strengthens the profession’s collective voice by coordinating a national network of chapters, partners, and advocates. Regular collaboration among state leaders allows midwives to share strategies, respond to emerging policy challenges, and build momentum toward common goals. NACPM also develops policy resources, educational webinars, and legislative toolkits that help midwives and advocates engage effectively in policy processes at the state and federal levels.
Through this work, NACPM seeks to build a policy environment where community midwives are fully integrated into the healthcare system, families have access to safe and culturally responsive birth options, and the midwifery workforce can grow to meet the nation’s health needs.
CPM Framework
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Professional Core Documents
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Acknowledgement of Harm
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Collaborative Agreements
This handout outlines NACPM’s position on collaborative agreements and interprofessional relationships, emphasizing that respectful collaboration improves care while mandated supervisory agreements create barriers to midwifery practice and client access.
Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments
This handout explains how current federal laboratory regulations under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) limit certain diagnostic testing performed by CPM and why federal recognition is needed to address these barriers.
ISSUE BRIEFS
These issue briefs present NACPM’s policy positions on key issues affecting CPMs and community-based perinatal care, providing context, data, and recommendations for policymakers, partners, and advocates.
Annual Legislative Efforts
These annual resources documents NACPM’s legislative and policy advocacy work across the country, highlighting key bills, testimony, letters, and partnerships that advance access to CPMs and community-based perinatal care.
Federal Policy Priorities
This page outlines NACPM’s federal policy priorities, highlighting key legislative and regulatory efforts to expand access to CPMs strengthen the workforce, and improve perinatal health outcomes.