Certified nurse midwives; require no written collaborative/consultative relationship agreement with physician to practice as an APRN.

SB 2553 would have allowed certified nurse midwives (CNMs) in Mississippi to practice as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) without needing a written collaborative or consultative agreement with a physician. Currently, Mississippi law (Section 73-15-5(4)) requires all APRNs, including CNMs, to maintain such agreements with physicians. The bill specifically amended Section 73-15-20 to exempt CNMs from this requirement, permitting them to operate independently within their scope of practice. This change would directly affect licensed certified nurse midwives seeking to provide care without physician oversight agreements.