By Harya Tarekegn, MCJ Director of Policy and Advocacy
As Mississippi’s maternal health crisis continues, a response to rising infant mortality rates and persistent gaps in prenatal, delivery, and postnatal care, especially in rural and underserved communities is needed and necessary. At a moment when the state urgently needs more qualified maternal health providers, outdated laws continue to stand in the way.
One of the most significant barriers is Mississippi’s requirement that certified nurse midwives (CNMs) secure a “collaborating” physician to practice. While this requirement is often framed as a safeguard, it has nothing to do with patient safety. Instead, it restricts access to care by limiting the number of CNMs who can practice in the state.
Certified nurse midwives are highly trained, nationally certified professionals who provide the full range of prenatal, delivery, and postnatal care. They safely deliver babies across the country every day—often at lower cost and with outcomes comparable to, or better than, physician-led care for low-risk pregnancies. Yet in Mississippi, many CNMs are unable to practice simply because they cannot find a physician willing to collaborate with them. Those who do often face steep fees for a requirement that is unnecessary and unsupported by evidence.
This requirement effectively gives physicians control over whether CNMs can practice at all, even though CNMs do not require supervision to provide safe, high-quality care. In a state already experiencing severe shortages of maternal health providers, that kind of restriction is not just outdated—it is dangerous.
Removing the collaboration requirement would immediately expand access to care, particularly in communities where hospitals have closed maternity wards and obstetric providers are scarce. It would allow more CNMs to serve Mississippi families, reduce care delays, and help close the gaps identified by state health officials.
Mississippi has declared a maternal health emergency. Responding to that emergency requires removing barriers that limit care, not reinforcing them. Empowering certified nurse midwives to practice without unnecessary restrictions is a clear, evidence-based step toward protecting the health of mothers and babies across the state.
Resources:
Read more about our lawsuit here.
Read more about HB418 here.