1. (a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.
2. (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.
3. (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.
4. (d) “Board” means the State Board of Nursing.
5. (e) “Committee” means the Direct-Entry Midwifery Advisory Committee established under § 8-6C-11 of this subtitle.

6. (f) “Health care practitioner” means:

   1. (1) An individual certified as a nurse-midwife or a nurse practitioner under this title; or
   2. (2) A physician licensed under Title 14 of this article.

7. (g)

   1. (1) “Health care provider” means a health care practitioner or a hospital.
   2. (2) “Health care provider” includes agents or employees of a health care practitioner or a hospital.
8. (h) “Hospital” has the meaning stated in § 19-301 of the Health--General Article.
9. (i) “License” means, unless the context requires otherwise, a license issued by the Board to practice direct-entry midwifery.

10. (j)

    1. (1) “Licensed direct-entry midwife” means an individual who has been granted a license under this subtitle to practice direct-entry midwifery.
    2. (2) “Licensed direct-entry midwife” does not include a licensed nurse certified as a nurse-midwife under this title.
11. (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 § 8-6C-03.
12. (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.
13. (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.

14. (n)

    1. (1) “Patient” means an individual for whom a licensed direct-entry midwife performs services.
    2. (2) “Patient” includes an individual's newborn for the purpose of perinatal or postpartum care.
15. (o) “Postpartum period” means the first 6 weeks after delivery.

16. (p)

    1. (1) “Practice direct-entry midwifery” means:

       1. (i) Providing maternity care that is consistent with a midwife's training, education, and experience; and
       2. (ii) Identifying and referring patients who require medical care to an appropriate health care provider.
    2. (2) “Practice direct-entry midwifery” includes the activities described in § 8-6C-02 of this subtitle.

Added by Acts 2015, c. 393, § 1, eff. June 1, 2015. Amended by Acts 2025, c. 644, § 1, eff. June 1, 2025; Acts 2025, c. 645, § 1, eff. June 1, 2025.