03/16/1999 01:38 PM Senate L&C

                                                                                                                                
        HB 10-EXTEND CERTIFIED DIRECT-ENTRY MIDWIVES BD                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN MACKIE called the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee                                                                  
meeting to order at 1:38 p.m. and announced HB 10 to be up for                                                                  
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON, sponsor of HB 10, explained that it extends                                                              
the very important Board of Certified Direct Entry Midwives for                                                                 
another four years to June 30, 2003.  This is valuable to the                                                                   
State, because their services under the Medicaid rates cost the                                                                 
State about half of what it costs through normal                                                                                
hospitalization/nursing type of procedure.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MS. MELISSA MAYO, Certified Direct Entry Midwife, said she works in                                                             
a free-standing birth center in the Palmer/Wasilla area.  They                                                                  
provide a different type of care for women than the medical type.                                                               
Certified Direct Entry Midwives are able to work one-on-one with                                                                
pregnant women and make a big difference in their lives -                                                                       
especially working with pregnant teens. They work on nutrition,                                                                 
healthy babies, and parenting. They are able to spend more time                                                                 
with a client and the service is half the price.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MS. CATHERINE REARDON, Director, Division of Occupational                                                                       
Licensing, supported HB 10.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN MACKIE noted there was a zero fiscal note and that the                                                                 
program was funded through program receipts.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR KELLY moved to pass HB 10 from committee with individual                                                                
recommendations.  There were no objections and it was so ordered.