# Health Occupations (GHO)

## Title 8. Nurses

### Subtitle 6C. Licensed Direct-Entry Midwives

#### Section 8-6C-01

(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

(b) "ACME" means the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education, or a successor organization that is an accrediting agency for nurse-midwifery and direct-entry midwifery education programs and is approved by the United States Department of Education.

(c) "AIMM" means the Association of Independent Midwives of Maryland or a successor organization that is a professional organization representing independent midwives in the State.

(d) "Board" means the State Board of Nursing.

(e) "Committee" means the Direct-Entry Midwifery Advisory Committee established under  Sec. 8-6C-11 of this subtitle.

(f) "Health care practitioner" means:

  (1) An individual certified as a nurse-midwife or a nurse practitioner under this title; or

  (2) A physician licensed under Title 14 of this article.

(g)

  (1) "Health care provider" means a health care practitioner or a hospital.

  (2) "Health care provider" includes agents or employees of a health care practitioner or a hospital.

(h) "Hospital" has the meaning stated in Sec. 19-301 of the Health - General Article.

(i) "License" means, unless the context requires otherwise, a license issued by the Board to practice direct-entry midwifery.

(j)

  (1) "Licensed direct-entry midwife" means an individual who has been granted a license under this subtitle to practice direct-entry midwifery.

  (2) "Licensed direct-entry midwife" does not include a licensed nurse certified as a nurse-midwife under this title.

(k) "Low-risk pregnancy" means a pregnancy, labor, and delivery and postpartum, newborn, and  interconceptional care that does not include a condition that requires a mandatory transfer under Sec. 8-6C-03.

(l) "MEAC" means the Midwifery Education and Accreditation Council, or a successor organization that is a national accreditation agency for midwifery education approved by the United States Department of Education.

(m) "NARM" means the North American Registry of Midwives, or a successor organization that is an international certification agency that establishes and administers certification for the certified professional midwife credential.

(n)

  (1) "Patient" means an individual for whom a licensed direct-entry midwife performs services.

  (2) "Patient" includes an individual's newborn for the purpose of perinatal or postpartum care.

(o) "Postpartum period" means the first 6 weeks after delivery.

(p)

  (1) "Practice direct-entry midwifery" means:

    (i) Providing  maternity care that is consistent with a midwife's training, education, and experience; and

    (ii) Identifying and referring patients who require medical care to an appropriate health care provider.

  (2) "Practice direct-entry midwifery" includes the activities described in Sec. 8-6C-02 of this subtitle.

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Md. Code Ann., Health Occ. (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)