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September 9, 2026 Full Affiliate meeting minutes

noonshana
10 minutes ago
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Affiliate Membership Meeting

MEETING NOTES

Colorado Affiliate  ·  American College of Nurse-Midwives


DATE

Tuesday, September 8, 2026

TIME

6:30 – 7:30 PM

FORMAT

Virtual | Google Meet

TYPE

Affiliate Membership Meeting

ATTENDEES

Members, board officers, guests | see sign-in


  1.  Call to Order & Introductions

Attendees introduced themselves by name, organization, and city in the chat

With: One thing bringing you joy this week.


  2.  Featured Update | First 5 Minutes

In person meetings locally



  3.  Board of Directors Updates


  • Rhonda developing a process for membership reach outs 60 days before expiration

    • University-based emails have become an issue that have made people unreachable

  • Our bank accounts are updated

  • Accounting software is attached

  • We have a centralized google account for all affiliate business and have affiliate email addresses (coloradoacnm.org)

  • We have a permanent address and phone number for the affiliate:

    • 1500 N. Grant St. #10828 Denver, CO 80203

    • Phone number: 719-984-0900

  • We are writing out processes as we plan the symposium so it can be primarily plug and play from this point forward

  • Your Board of Directors:

    • Jolene Hamann, President (2025-2027) (president@coloradoacnm.org, cell 719-323-3865)

    • Leah Rashidyan, Vice-President (2026-2028)

    • Laura Sheperis, Treasurer (2026-2028)

    • Shana Noon, Secretary (2025-2027)

    • Deborah Machado, Member at Large (2026-2028)

    • Sarah Meyer, Member at Large (2025-2027)

    • Kari Ann Richardson, Student Representative (2026-2028)

  4.  Legislative Update


Presenter: Jolene Hamann, President of CO ACNM, Member of Legislative Committee


  • CO ACNM Recommendations for the Nurse Practice Act Sunset 2027

1. Establish a role-specific advanced practice midwife license; remove midwives from the APRN registry.


2. Create one Advanced Practice Midwife license encompassing both CNMs and CMs, with the distinction between CNM and CM based on RN licensure rather than separate midwifery licenses.


3. Integrate prescriptive authority into advanced practice licensure. Eliminate separate RXN/RXN-P and CMRX/CMRX-P registrations and recognize prescribing as a core component of advanced practice care.


4. Remove time-in-licensure and supervised/mentored prescribing-hour requirements.


5. Establish a dedicated Midwifery Advisory Council or sub-board on the Board of Nursing; explicitly recognize midwifery in the regulatory structure, including renaming it to the Board of Nursing and Midwifery.




Stakeholder engagement is underway, including a recent discussion with CRNAs, an upcoming meeting with Family Medicine next week, and a meeting with the ACOG Colorado Section in the near future.


  • Medicaid provider rate cuts

    • Jolene attended HCPF Provider Rate Review Meetings in June, July, and August and proved written testimony

    • Maternity Billing Correction: HCPF identified an error regarding the April 1, 2026 adjustment that reduced maternity reimbursement to 85% of Medicare (instead of 100%). Medicaid is addressing this retroactively, maintaining the reimbursement rate at the full 100% established in October 2025.

    • CO ACNM joined CO AABC and CO Midwife Cooperative in signing a letter asking for HCPF to add reimbursement for newborn facility charges at freestanding birth centers.

  • Billing code changes

  • Plans for hospital privileges bill

    • Tabling until 2028 legislative session in favor of work on the Nurse Practice Act Sunset revisions 2027

  • Elephant Circle suit against DORA for treatment of DEMs/CPMs

  • Colorado Nurses’ Association APRN Nurse Practice Act Sunset group final recommendations for DORA (already presented to DORA)

    • The Colorado Board of Nursing representative, Mr. Saul Larsen has reached out to the Colorado Nurses Association (CNA), and all CNA agenda items related to proposed revisions, omissions, and removals within the current Nurse Practice Act have been presented.

    • These items were reviewed with Mr. Saul Larson, Analyst for the Department of Regulatory Agencies, along with a brief overview of each recommendation:

    • Colorado Nurses Association – Summary of Recommendations

      • Eliminate reference to “conduct that would constitute a crime” (CRS 12-255-120(1))

      • Revise peer health assistance provisions for Certified Nursing Aides

      • Modernize disciplinary provisions and strengthen confidential pathways for nurses facing health challenges

      • Update Board composition to increase representation of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs)

      • Clarify delegation versus assignment to better protect nurses

      • Add “medically complex patient” designation within the delegation section

      • Eliminate the mentorship requirement for APRN prescriptive authority

      • Increase statutory and regulatory oversight of out-of-state nursing programs

      • Update statutes, regulations, and policies to expand and improve the use of simulation in place of clinical hours

      • Enhance data collection efforts related to the nursing workforce and education

      • Establish a Board policy to create a Nursing Education Advisory Committee

    • The CNA and the chairs of all subcommittee groups will continue meeting with Mr. Larsen to provide documentation and evidence to support these changes.

  • Join the legislative committee!

    • One hour meetings once monthly during the legislative session (January-May)

    • Plus other contacts as needed for input on bills and other happenings.

    • Be AT THE TABLE rather than ON THE MENU


  5.  Research Committee


Jeannie Bair, Chair

  • Salary Survey research grant awarded

  • Salary Survey coming out through AMCB this Fall around the end of September - look out for an email and PLEASE participate and spread the word!

  • Look for an invite coming soon for a late September or early October dinner to talk more about the Salary Survey!

Recent Research:


6.  JEDI Committee


Lorell Erwin, Chair


  7.  Membership Report


Membership Committee



8.  Nominating Committee

Nominating Committee

  • We need a nominating committee for this year’s election for the 2027-2029 terms for:

    • President

    • Secretary

    • Member at Large

    • Student Representative

  • There is a toolkit that is your guide / instructions.

  • Requires about 10 hours total between now and December


  9.  Financial Report


  • Checking = $17803.68

  • Money Market = $11087.60

  • Updated banks, accounting software

  • Without a significantly profitable Symposium every year, we are not financially sustainable with membership dues alone.

    • Membership dues are approximately $10,000 yearly.

    • Our lobbyist is $20,400 yearly


  10.  Midwifery Symposium 2027

Midwifery Symposium 2027 - Planning Group

  • Planning underway for Spring 2027 |

  • Friday April 16, 2027 - SAVE THE DATE

  • Lone Tree Arts Center

  • Volunteers are welcome to join the planning group!!

  • Stay tuned for additional information


11. Student Scholarship to the ACNM Annual Meeting


  • Student Annual Meeting Scholarship awarded to Brooke Garner, SNM!!

    • We will plan to hear from her at our December meeting with her key takeaways from the annual meeting.

ACNM 71st Annual Meeting

  • October 9–12, 2026

  • Kansas City Convention Center | Kansas City, MO

  • Many pre-conference workshops available


  12.  Announcements & Partner Updates


Harvey C. Cohen MM&M Summit | Register Soon for November 6th, 2026!

The planning committee for the 2026 Harvey C. Cohen MD Maternal Morbidity & Mortality Summit has chosen cases for this November’s Summit. We will have a CNM Panelist for the presentations.

  • Our CO ACNM Panelist is Ashley Character, CNM

  • Harvey M. Cohen MD Maternal Morbidity & Mortality Summit

    • Friday, November 6, 2026 - 7:00a - 5:00p

    • The Inverness Denver | 200 Inverness Drive West | Englewood, CO

  • Gyn Conundrums: Unique Case Study Presentations

    • Saturday, November 7, 2026 - 7:30a - 1:00p

    • The Inverness Denver | 200 Inverness Drive West | Englewood, CO


Project C.U.R.E. | Midwife Kits Initiative

The Colorado Affiliate participates in Project C.U.R.E.'s Midwife Kits program, which provides clean birth supplies to birth attendants and midwives globally.


Volunteer opportunities:

  • Project C.U.R.E Sign Up

  • Need Sign Ups for August 2026 and Beyond! Monthly preferably, has been quarterly. Bring blankets!

  • Project C.U.R.E. midwife kits assembly

    • September 13, 1–3 PM

    • October 4, 1–3 PM

    • November 15, 1–3 PM



  13.  2026 Previous Colorado Affiliate Updates


  • Key takeaways from the June 9, 2026 Affiliate meeting

    • Organizational updates: Delighted to bring on Rhonda Justice as Affiliate Coordinator. The leadership team is actively upgrading infrastructure, including banking platforms, financial reporting software, digital record systems, and securing dedicated contact details for our affiliate.

    • Policy & advocacy: Strategic efforts are advancing for the upcoming 2027 Nurse Practice Act Sunset review alongside CNA and partner groups. Core focuses involve removing prescriptive authority mentorship barriers for APRNs and ensuring proper statutory recognition for CNMs and CMs. Ongoing monitoring includes HCPF Medicaid rate adjustments and shifting hospital credentialing legislation to 2028.

    • Roster overview: Our affiliate includes 164 registered members out of 511 active Colorado CNM licenses (roughly 32%). We are seeking volunteers to establish a dedicated Membership Committee to bolster engagement and outreach.

    • Upcoming leadership ballot: Looking for members to join the Nominating Committee for the 2027–2029 Board election cycle covering President, Secretary, and Member-at-Large roles.

    • Treasury report: Balances total around $30,400 across checking and reserve accounts as of June; long-term solvency relies on non-dues funding streams and a profitable annual conference.

    • Spring conference: Preparations are moving forward for a Spring 2027 gathering in the Denver area; planning committee members are gladly welcomed.

    • National conference award: Applications opened for a $1,000 student stipend toward attending the ACNM Annual Meeting this October in Kansas City.

    • Partner initiatives: Active collaboration continues with CPCQC, Project C.U.R.E. kit packing, and the Harvey Cohen MM&M Summit, paired with efforts to cultivate regional social meetups across the state.


  14.  Open Floor


Topics available for member discussion:

  • Workforce updates

  • Member wins & challenges

  • Questions or concerns from members/participants

  • Clinical pearls, updates, or questions


Open floor discussion:



  15.  ACNM National News

ACNM 71st Annual Meeting


  16.  Action Items


Action Item

Owner / Notes

Volunteer to serve on a Committee or Task Group:

Membership (ongoing)

Legislative (ongoing)

Research (ongoing)

JEDI (ongoing)

Nominating (limited)

Symposium 2027 Planning (limited)


Everyone

Local in person  meetings - scheduling dates, times, exact locations

Everyone

Membership - SHARE PRACTICE LEAD CONTACT INFORMATION WITH PRACTICE NAME TO president@coloradoacnm.org

Everyone

Order to donate baby blankets to Project CURE

Everyone

Volunteer for Project C.U.R.E. monthly kit assembly (Sundays 1–3 PM) Project CURE SIGN UP SHEET

Everyone

Share Harvey Cohen MM&M Summit November 6th - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/harvey-cohen-md-maternal-morbidity-mortality-summit-registrants-2026-registration-1993167644078


Everyone

Plan Colorado Meetup at the Annual Meeting - Leah

Everyone

Share our Legislative Agenda for the Nurse Practice Act Sunset 2027 with all CMs and CNMs state-wide

Everyone


  • Upcoming 2026 Affiliate Meetings  ·  Quarterly, Second Tuesday  ·  6:30–7:30 PM  ·  Virtual

  •    ·    December 8, 2026    ·         ·         ·    


Colorado Affiliate · ACNM  |  Affiliate Membership Meeting Notes  | 

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