April 1, 2009 - Alberta funds Midwifery

The Alberta government has announced it will fund midwives starting April 1, 2009. Funded midwives are expected to reduce pressure on doctors, obstetricians, nurses and hospitals while providing better access and more choice for Alberta families.

The Alberta Association of Midwives (AAM) is now meeting regularly with Alberta Health and Wellness to work out the details. The goal is to develop a sustainable model that will provide options for pregnant women while fostering collaboration between midwives, doctors, nurses and other health care professionals.

"We're working hard to keep the model intact. Our goal is to maintain the pillars of midwifery care in the funded system, those being: continuity of care, choice of birth setting, informed choice and women-centred care," said Jane Baker, president of the AAM.

Many expectant families are wondering if midwifery care they receive now will be covered if their due date is after April 1, 2009. Baker confirms that funding will be available for care provided after April 1, which means families will pay out-of-pocket for care received prior to that date.

"Right now it's "business as usual". We are asking families to pay for service as they go along. We will reimburse them whatever portion is coming to them once an agreement is in place," she says.

Alberta families have paid $3,500 out of pocket for
midwifery services for some time. The funding will cost government $4 million the first year, but will create
significant savings by reducing the number of
interventions and hospital births overall.

"It's going to make midwifery services available now to any woman who wants it regardless of whether or not she can afford it," said Diane Rach, chair of the Alberta Midwifery Health Disciplines Committee.

It will take time for the number of available midwives to meet increased demand for service. Only 29 midwives were registered in Alberta in 2006 according to the AAM.

Originally published March, 2009.