Medicaid and state regulation of nurse-midwives: the challenge of data retrieval

This article discusses one of four findings of a larger descriptive correlational health policy study, the purpose of which was to investigate relationships among state regulation of nurse-midwifery practice, utilization of certified nurse-midwives (CNM) for Medicaid funded prenatal care, and maternal newborn outcomes. The larger study showed that use of accurate data about CNM practice and subsequent health care outcomes creates a challenge for researchers because of the paucity of data related to services provided by CNMs. Barriers to adequate data collection related to CNM services, specifically those funded by Medicaid, preclude legitimate conclusions about subsequent health care policy. Methods of workforce data collection need to be addressed by health care and health policy groups to facilitate further investigation of the relationships among state regulation of CNM practice, utilization of CNMs for Medicaid-funded prenatal care and maternal newborn outcomes as they affect access to care for vulnerable populations.