Nov. 18--A bill licensing Idaho midwives to dispense certain medications, among other things, will return for the 2009 Legislature.

The bill's sponsors, including the Idaho Midwifery Council, pulled the bill last session after the Idaho Attorney General's office determined some of its language to be ambiguous. But after a summer of revisions, the groups are preparing a new bill to submit to the Legislature in January.

The groups will meet Wednesday in Jerome to discuss the changes and talk about related issues on the state and national levels, said Connie Wolcott, a certified nurse-midwife who practices at St. Benedicts Family Medical Center and who would not be affected by the bill. The goal, she said, is to remedy one problem from the previous attempt -- a lack of organized support from those who use midwives.

State statistics from 2006 show fewer Magic Valley mothers use midwives than in most other parts of Idaho.

"The people who do support it in this community need to have the opportunity to express that, as a group," Wolcott said.

Also awaiting the new bill are critics of the previous version -- including state associations for physicians, hospitals and other groups.

Susie Pouliot, CEO ofthe Idaho Medical Association, said her group met with the council and other groups in late June for a "productive" meeting. A planned followup meeting in July never took place, she said.

Educational requirements were a major part of the IMA's opposition, she said.

The organization heard last week about the draft bill, Pouliot said, adding she has not yet seen it but plans to ask the midwives for a copy.

"Again, our concern is patient safety," Pouliot said.

The Times-News was unable to get a copy of the draft bill on Monday. But according to a list of talking points about the bill, licensure would not be voluntary, as initially proposed.

The standards would be based on the "certified professional midwife" credential from the National Commission on Certifying Agencies. Experienced midwives who meet the credential criteria would have one year to become licensed. Some midwives would have to take additional classes.

The bill was reviewed by several attorneys and the Idaho Bureau of Occupational Licenses to avoid ambiguity. Among other details, midwives would only be allowed to handle medications needed for their jobs and could not write prescriptions. Other health care providers who take patients from midwives would be covered by a vicarious liability exemption.

Despite strong opposition to the previous bill, Wolcott said she thinks the relationships between midwives and other health care providers are still good in the Magic Valley. For example, she said, hospitals are working with midwives to help those mothers who need to be transferred.

"I expect many (providers) would not want to see home birth be made unavailable," Wolcott said.

Nate Poppino may be reached at 208-735-3237 or npoppino@magicvalley.com.

Learn more: Representatives from the Idaho Midwifery Council and Idahoans for Midwives will be in Jerome Wednesday to talk about the midwife licensing bill. The meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. at the Magic Valley Birth Center, 102 E. Ave. F. More information: Connie Wolcott at 208-308-4538; Cara Niska at 208-320-7743.

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