Florida Senate - 2020 CS for SB 1764
By the Committee on Health Policy; and Senator Flores
588-03103-20 20201764c1
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to midwifery; amending s. 467.015,
3 F.S.; revising responsibilities of licensed midwives
4 providing in-hospital and out-of-hospital births;
5 amending s. 467.016, F.S.; revising the requirements
6 for the uniform patient informed consent form used by
7 licensed midwives providing out-of-hospital births;
8 providing an effective date.
9
10 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
11
12 Section 1. Subsection (5) of section 467.015, Florida
13 Statutes, is amended to read
14 467.015 Responsibilities of the midwife.—
15 (5) The midwife, whether providing an in-hospital or out
16 of-hospital birth, shall do all of the following:
17 (a) Upon acceptance of a patient into care, advise the
18 patient of the clinical outcomes of births in low-risk patients
19 during an out-of-hospital birth and any increased risks
20 associated with an individual having a vaginal birth after
21 having a caesarean section, a breech birth, or a multiple
22 gestation pregnancy. The licensed health care practitioner
23 providing out-of-hospital births shall further advise, but may
24 not require, the patient to consult an obstetrician for more
25 information related to such clinical outcomes and increased
26 risks.
27 (b)(a) Prepare a written plan of action with the patient
28 and the patient’s family, if any, to ensure continuity of
29 medical care throughout labor and delivery and to provide for
30 immediate medical care if an emergency arises. The family should
31 have specific plans for medical care throughout the prenatal,
32 intrapartal, and postpartal periods.
33 (c)(b) If a home birth is planned, instruct the patient and
34 family regarding the preparation of the environment and ensure
35 availability of equipment and supplies needed for delivery and
36 infant care, if a home birth is planned.
37 (d)(c) Instruct the patient in the hygiene of pregnancy and
38 nutrition as it relates to prenatal care.
39 (e)(d) Maintain equipment and supplies in conformity with
40 the rules adopted pursuant to this chapter.
41 (f) Upon initial contact with the patient during the
42 intrapartal period, measure and record the vital signs of the
43 mother and fetus to serve as a baseline during labor and
44 delivery.
45 (g) Transfer care of the patient to a hospital with
46 obstetrical services in accordance with the written emergency
47 plan if any of the following occurs or presents during labor or
48 delivery or immediately thereafter:
49 1. An unexpected nonvertex presentation of the fetus;
50 2. Indication that the mother’s uterus has ruptured;
51 3. Evidence of severe and persistent fetal or maternal
52 distress;
53 4. Pregnancy-induced hypertension;
54 5. An umbilical cord prolapse;
55 6. An active infectious disease process; or
56 7. Any other severe emergent condition.
57 Section 2. Section 467.016, Florida Statutes, is amended to
58 read:
59 467.016 Informed consent.—The department shall develop a
60 uniform patient informed consent client informed-consent form to
61 be used by the midwife providing out-of-hospital births to
62 inform the patient client of the qualifications of a licensed
63 midwife and the nature and risk of the procedures to be used by
64 a midwife and to obtain the patient’s client’s consent for the
65 provision of out-of-hospital birth midwifery services. The form
66 must be signed by the patient and the midwife providing out-of
67 hospital births, and a copy must be provided to the patient. The
68 form shall include, at a minimum, all of the following:
69 (a) A statement advising the patient of the clinical
70 outcomes of births in low-risk patients during an out-of
71 hospital birth and any increased risks associated with having a
72 vaginal birth after having a caesarean section, a breech birth,
73 or a multiple gestation pregnancy.
74 (b) A detailed statement explaining to the patient hospital
75 admitting privileges and the requirements for a health care
76 practitioner to obtain and maintain such privileges.
77 (c) Disclosure of each hospital and specific department, if
78 any, where the health care practitioner providing out-of
79 hospital births has been granted admitting privileges, including
80 the scope and duration of the admitting privileges, the current
81 contact information for the specific hospital or department that
82 has granted the health care practitioner admitting privileges,
83 and a copy of documentation from the hospital or department
84 providing proof of such admitting privileges. A health care
85 practitioner providing out-of-hospital births who does not have
86 admitting privileges at any hospital must explicitly state that
87 fact on the form.
88 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2020.