The MAWS eBulletin
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Volume 2, Issue 4
August 2009
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Greetings!
We hope you have been enjoying your summer. This newsletter is packed full of practical information. If you don't have time to read it now, print it so that you'll be informed about the latest updates regarding Swine Flu and Medicaid Reimbursement.
A special thank you to those of you who have already donated to the MAMA Campaign. By far, midwives in Washington have contributed more financial support than midwives in any other state. Thank you for your commitment to ensuring that midwives can serve everyone, especially low-income women, under national health care reform. However, the battle is not over yet. Read on for details, and visit or write your representatives today, and if you want to donate (or donate again), visit the MAMA homepage and click the "donate" button!
Hope to see you in November at the MAWS Conference on November 13th. Save the date now.
Best,
Kristin Effland
Vice-President
Midwives' Association of Washington State
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New Medicaid Reimbursement Rate for C-Sections Now in Effect
"Beginning this month, the state of Washington will pay hospitals the
same amount for an uncomplicated C-section as for a complicated vaginal
birth when it reimburses them through Medicaid. Almost half of all
births in Washington are paid by Medicaid, so this measure will have a
significant effect on the economics of birth in the state."
Read the whole article from Crosscut on this subject>
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SAVE THE DATE FOR THE MAWS ANNUAL MEETING & CONFERENCE ON NOV 13TH
watch for details!
PLEASE JOIN OUR CONFERENCE COMMITTEE!
We need your help to make this conference the best ever. Just click here to send us an email if you're interested.
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Read and Discuss MAWS Member, Emily Streich's post, "H1N1 (Swine flu) vaccine and our clients" on the MAWS Members' Forum
 Click here to read Emily's post, and join the discussion.
If you haven't joined the forum yet, click here and register. Please use a login or email that is identifiable so we know you are a member and can approve you quickly.
Don't forget that you can find MAWS Board meeting minutes on the forum under MAWS Admin.
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DOWNLOAD MAMA CAMPAIGN MATERIALS FOR YOUR CLIENTS ON THE MAWS WEB SITE
Please consider asking your clients to participate in the MAMA Campaign. Click here for campaign materials you can print.
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Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada New Breech Policy
In June, the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada announced new guidelines for breech delivery. While change will probably be slow and the circumstances still not ideal for breech babies and their moms, it's nice to have a shift in the right direction.
"What we've found is that, in some cases, vaginal breech birth is a
safe option, and obstetricians should be able to offer women the choice
to attempt a traditional delivery." Read the article from CBC News Canada>
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DSHS/Medicaid Home Birth Provider Qualification
Some MAWS members, especially newer midwives in our community have had difficulty being reimbursed by Medicaid under certain circumstances, one of which is with clients who have "open" coupons.
Beyond obtaining a provider number through DSHS, it is important to complete the following steps for "Home Birth Provider Qualification."
Fax the following documents to Jean Gowen at 360.725.1966. If you have questions, call Jean at 360.725.2005. Whether you are a new or established provider, make sure that your backup midwife is also on the list (see below for how to do that).
- DSHS Provider #
- National Provider ID #
- Midwifery License #
- Plan for consultation and emergency transfer and transport form
- Consent form
- Name of backup homebirth provider - call Customer Service at 800.562.3022 to make sure your backup is on the provider list
- CPR certificate
- Neonatal Resuscitation Certificate
- Name of Quality Assurance group for peer review
- Statement of agreement to follow the risk screening guidelines and consult and refer as medically appropriate.
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MAMA Campaign - Please Visit or Write to Your Legislators NOW
During this crucial time of August recess, the MAMA Campaign needs supporters in Washington State to fax or e-mail letters to the district offices of Senator Maria Cantwell and Rep Jay Inslee, asking them to support our amendment in their bill that would expand Medicaid coverage to Certified Professional Midwives. If possible, we would like people to make appointments to visit the senator or representative in their district office as well. Please write or call for an appointment today!
Senator Cantwell is a very important member of the Senate Finance Committee and Representative Inslee is on the House Energy & Commerce Committee. Both have expressed support for our amendment to include Certified Professional Midwives in their committee's bill. What we need now are letters urging them to champion our amendment with their respective committee chairman, Max Baucus (D-MT) on the Senate side and Henry Waxman on the House.
Use these linked documents for some "talking points" and assistance for your letter or visit to your US Senator or Representative:
Setting an appointment/talking points for a visit - MS Word pdf
Talking points for letters - MS Word pdf
All of us are constituents of Senator Cantwell, so writing now to her district office, even if you have already written to the DC office, is very important. If Rep. Inslee is your congressman, writing to his district office will also be important.
Addresses for each can be found at:
Cantwell
Inslee
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NEW MEDICAID PROVIDER PAYMENT SYSTEM BEGINNING DECEMBER. ALL MIDWIVES WHO ACCEPT MEDICAID MUST REGISTER IN THE SYSTEM BY OCTOBER 15!
To Register for "ProviderOne," go to hrsa.dshs.wa.gov/providerone/ (For new midwives, you will still need your provider number before registering in the ProviderOne system.)
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THANK YOU TO OUR ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
The following list contains our Associate Members who are supporting MAWS at the $100 level. Click here to find out how you can help support MAWS by recruiting your favorite providers to become Associate Members. You will find these Associate Member listings in the MAWS online directory under "Midwife-Friendly" Providers:
Bethany J Tilzey, Certified Birth Doula
A Gentler Birth, Doula Service
Certified birth doula through DONA International
www.AGentlerBirth.com
Gig Harbor
Victoria Malloy
Alternative Medical Billing, LLC
Medical billing services for midwives and other medical professionals
Email
Seattle
PJ Jacobsen
Birth and Baby Care
Doula (PALS Certified), breastfeeding/lactation consultation, childbirth education and nutritional counseling.
www.birthandbaby.com
Lind, WA (Eastern WA)
Charlene Wheatley, BScM, MScM
Birth Joy Educational Films
Birth Joy offers 4-6-hour midwifery skills demonsrations on DVD for institutions, midwives and student midwives
www.midwifesassistant.com
Bellevue
Liz Chalmers (two businesses)
Birth Zone
Childbirth Education
www.birthzone.com
Midwifery Support Services
Practice management software for homebirth midwives and birth centers
www.MidwiferySupportServices.com
Kirkland
Candace Aasan, ND
Cascade Natural Medicine
Women's health care and pediatrics
www.cascadenaturalmedicine.com
Kirkland
Susan Moore, LAc
Dragonfly Holistic Healing
Acupuncture as an aid to conditions of pregnancy such as nausea, PIH, lactation difficulties, postpartum disorders, anxiety, depression, as well as labor preparation
www.susanmoorelac.com
Seattle
Molly Linton, ND/LM
Emerald City Naturopathic Clinic
Naturopathic Family Medicine, pre-conception through end of life
www.emeraldcityclinic.com
Jasmine Bay, CPM, LAc
Five element acupuncturist specializing in women's health, fertility, pregnancy, birth and postpartum
Email
Seattle
JoAnne Myers-Ciecko, MPH
Public speaking, consulting
Email
Mt. Vernon, WA
Seattle Midwifery School
Inspiring leaders in childbirth professions
www.seattlemidwifery.org
Seattle
Judy Osman
Sisterhood Motherhood Birth Services
Birth/postpartum doula services, Birthing From Within Classes, breastfeeding classes/support groups
Molly Gray, ND/LM
West Seattle Natural Medicine
Naturopathic pediatric care
www.westseattlenaturalmedicine.com
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BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS NEEDED FOR MAWS WEB SITE!
We are embarking on a web site face lift and are also developing a co-branded sister site called "Better Birth Options" specifically targeted to consumers! We need high quality photos of moms, babies and families for these sites. Please send your client photos (with their permission, which we are happy to confirm) to Lynn.
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SEATTLE REGIONAL REP NEEDED!
Please consider being part of MAWS' oversight and QMP process in this rewarding role. A MAWS Regional Rep's responsibilities may include (but are not limited to):
- Acting as liaison between regional members and MAWS Board of Directors.
- Identifying regional midwives and ensuring all receive annual invitations to MAWS membership.
- Welcoming new members via letter or phone call.
- Being responsible for organizing regular regional meetings and peer reviews.
- Ensuring that all members are notified of regional meetings.
- Ensuring that written record of meetings are distributed to all regional members.
- Ensuring relevant monthly reports are provided to the MAWS Regional Rep Coordinator prior to the Board of Directors meeting (first Friday of every month.)
- Attending monthly MAWS Board Meetings, if interested - conference call option possible (not required).
- Ensuring Board of Directors are informed regarding local issues of significance.
- Ensuring regional members of MAWS are informed regarding state issues of significance.
- Facilitating Peer Review requirements.
Please write to Chenelle Roberts if you are interested in this position.
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JUA NEWS FROM LIZ CHALMERS
 1. The JUA is considering a monthly payment option for premiums, starting in 2010. Premiums would be automatically deducted from your checking account every month. The expectation is that the cost will be no higher than the $20 currently charged for the quarterly payment option. If you have not already indicated your interest in monthly payments, please contact Liz Chalmers.
2. Renewal forms will be going out at the end of September. If you want to get started on that sooner, the forms are also available at the JUA website. (On that same website you can find Frequently Asked Questions, information on premium calculations, and information on when and how to report incidents.)
3. In order to renew this fall, you need at least 30 hours of continuing education since January 1st 2007, and MAWS, PMA, or hospital-based peer review in 2008 or 2009. If you are short of continuing education hours, take a look at online risk management training--an inexpensive, convenient, and valuable way to earn lots of hours while reducing your exposure to lawsuits. For more info, click here.
4. Send in your continuing ed and peer review certificates as soon as you get them, so that you don't have to find them again at renewal time. You can fax them to Liz at (866) 212-9633.
Let me know if there is anything we can do to make the pain of paying for professional liability coverage easier to swallow!
Liz Chalmers
Liz@WashingtonJUA.com
(425) 956-3227
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UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS
Mountain Midwives Conference in Spearfish, SD
Labor Day Weekend, September 4-6, 2009
More Information>
Promoting Infant Mental Health: Intervention Focused on the Parent-Child Relationship
September 14 15, 2009 - Bellevue Hyatt Regency, Bellevue, WA. More information>
Promoting Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy
September 16th 17th - Bellevue Hyatt Regency, Bellevue, WA. More information>
Celebrating the Magic of Normal Birth - Lamaze International 2009 Annual Conference
October 1-4, 2009 - Lake Buena Vista, FL. More information>
October 15-17, 2009 - Oklahoma City, OK. More information>
Midwives Alliance of North America 2009 Conference - Rising Tide: women, midwives and the future
October 22-25, 2009 - Asilomar State Beach Conference Grounds near Monterey, CA. More information>
See the MAWS web site for ongoing continuing education opportunities.
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 BUY PENNY SIMKIN'S NEW COMFORT MEASURES FOR CHILDBIRTH DVD & PENNY WILL DONATE 10% TO MAWS!
This 90-minute interactive DVD contains more than 40 techniques for reducing and managing the pain of labor contractions. Christiane Northrup, MD states, "Comfort Measures is wonderful. I suggest that it be required viewing for all pregnant couples and childbirth professionals." Use this link to buy it now or click here to read more about it.
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This is your newsletter. Please send any feedback or suggestions to Kristin Effland.
If you enjoyed this E-newsletter, contribute an article yourself for future MAWS E-news publications. Submit your contributions for review to info@washingtonmidwives.org.
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