#Fix676 – Protect Nebraska Moms and Babies

Support AM914 – Remove Risky Midwife Licensure from LB676.

🛑 What’s the Issue?

LB676 would create a new licensure category for Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) — individuals who can practice maternity care without a degree, hospital training, or formal medical education.

CPMs are not currently licensed in Nebraska LB676 would change that, giving CPMs official state licensure and independent authority to provide pregnancy, postpartum, and newborn care — including home births and administration of medication.

Licensing does not mean safety →
Granting licensure to underqualified providers would give families a false sense of trust — and put lives at risk.

✅ What’s the Solution?

AM914 is a responsible amendment to LB676 that:

  • ✅ Removes CPM licensure from the bill
  • ✅ Advances Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs) toward safe, independent practice
  • ✅ Establishes standards for out-of-hospital births — including limiting to low-risk pregnancies and providing informed consent and transfer protocols

AM914 was developed with input from physicians and CNMs to maintain high standards of maternity care while expanding access in a responsible way.

⚠️ Why This Matters

Unlike every other licensed maternity provider in Nebraska, CPMs:

  • Do not need a college degree
  • Are not required to complete an accredited program
  • May certify entirely through apprenticeship
  • Are not adequately trained to manage obstetric emergencies

📊 See the difference in training:
Provider Education Comparison →

🔎 What Happened to Raising Standards?

In 2013, national CPM organizations promised to raise education standards through a unified effort called the US MERA agreement. That promise went unfulfilled.

Despite rapid expansion in state licensure based on that trust, most CPMs are still certified without completing an accredited program — and now many leading medical organizations have withdrawn support.

📉 Read more:
The Broken Promise of US MERA →

🤝 Who We Are

A statewide coalition of Nebraska physicians, nurses, midwives, hospitals, and advanced practice providers have united to urge lawmakers to support AM914 and remove CPM licensure from LB676.

Coalition Signers Include:

  • Boys Town National Research Hospital
  • Bryan Health
  • Community Hospital, McCook
  • Jennie M. Melham Memorial Medical Center, Broken Bow
  • Nebraska Academy of Family Physicians
  • Nebraska Academy of PAs
  • Nebraska Association of Nurse Anesthetists
  • Nebraska Certified Nurse-Midwives
  • Nebraska Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
  • Nebraska Medical Association
  • Nebraska Medicine
  • Nebraska Methodist Health Systems
  • Nebraska Nurse Practitioners
  • Nebraska Nurses Association
  • Brady Beecham, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Gothenburg Health, Gothenburg
  • Mark Davis, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Faith Regional Health Services, Norfolk

📄 Read the full coalition letter to Senators →

📥 Download and Share:

📣 Take Action

🗳️ Support AM914. Remove CPM Licensure from LB676.
📍 Find and contact your senator here →

Help protect Nebraska moms and babies by ensuring maternity care is provided only by qualified, medically trained professionals.

Fix the bill. Fix676.