To amend sections 3701.351, 3702.30, 4723.01, 4723.02, 4723.03, 4723.06, 4723.07, 4723.08, 4723.271, 4723.28, 4723.282, 4723.33, 4723.34, 4723.341, 4723.35, 4723.41, 4723.43, 4723.431, 4723.432, 4723.481, 4723.483, 4723.487, 4723.488, 4723.4810, 4723.4811, 4723.50, 4723.91, 4723.99, 4731.22, and 4731.27 and to enact sections 5.2324, 3722.15, 4723.53, 4723.54, 4723.55, 4723.551, 4723.56, 4723.57, 4723.58, 4723.581, 4723.582, 4723.583, 4723.584, 4723.59, 4723.60, 4724.01, 4724.02, 4724.03, 4724.04, 4724.05, 4724.06, 4724.07, 4724.08, 4724.09, 4724.10, 4724.11, 4724.12, 4724.13, 4724.14, 4724.15, 4724.16, and 4724.99 of the Revised Code to regulate the practice of midwifery, to establish requirements for freestanding birthing centers, and to designate May 5th as the "Day of the Midwife."
HB537 would create a comprehensive statutory framework for midwifery in Ohio. It adds a new licensed midwife category under Chapter 4724, sets education, certification, renewal, and disciplinary requirements, and defines the scope of practice for licensed midwives, including prenatal, labor, birth, postpartum, and newborn care. It also creates a separate framework for certified midwives under Chapter 4723, including licensure through the Board of Nursing, required graduate education, national certification, advanced pharmacology training, and authority to provide specified midwifery services in collaboration with physicians.
The bill also expands and clarifies rules for certified nurse-midwives, certified nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and related nursing practice provisions. It updates hospital privilege and anti-discrimination rules so hospitals providing maternity services may not deny clinical privileges solely because a qualified practitioner is a certified midwife, licensed midwife, or nurse-midwife. It further establishes informed-consent procedures, transfer-of-care planning, home-birth rules, adverse-incident reporting, and liability protections for emergency transfers and post-incident care. In addition, it designates May 5 as the “Day of the Midwife.”
The bill would significantly amend Ohio law governing nursing, medical practice, and birthing services by creating new licensure and regulatory structures for midwives and by revising existing provisions affecting hospitals, the Board of Nursing, the State Medical Board, and the Department of Commerce. It would authorize licensed midwives and certified midwives to practice under detailed statutory conditions, require collaboration or consultation with physicians in certain circumstances, and impose reporting, consent, and transfer requirements for home births and other non-hospital deliveries. It also adds or revises penalties for unauthorized practice and expands disciplinary authority over midwifery-related licenses and certificates.
The bill appears generally supportive of midwifery practice and access to out-of-hospital birth options, as reflected in its broad recognition of midwives, hospital privilege protections, and the creation of a dedicated licensure pathway. Because the bill was only introduced and there were no recorded committee transcripts or votes in the provided materials, there is no formal legislative record here showing support or opposition. The overall tone of the introduced text is affirmative toward midwifery regulation and professional recognition.
The main areas of likely contention are the scope of home-birth practice, especially for higher-risk situations such as VBACs, twins, and breech births, and the extent of physician collaboration or consultation required. Another likely point of debate is the balance between expanding midwifery autonomy and maintaining patient safety through mandatory informed consent, transfer planning, adverse-incident reporting, and disciplinary oversight. Hospital privilege requirements and the creation of a new licensed midwife category may also raise concerns among hospitals, physicians, and regulators about credentialing, liability, and oversight.