Board Meeting
February 1, 2019
The Alabama State Board of Midwifery met on Friday, February 1, 2019, to conduct business. Board member physically present at the primary physical location was: (1) Ms Kaycee Cavender (member). Board members in attendance electronically were (1) Ms Noel Leithart (Board Chair), (2) Ms Tori Dennis (member), (3) Ms Marietta Nero (member), and (4) Ms Colleen Tullis (member). Also in attendance electronically was Ms Bettie Carmack (attorney). Absent was Ms Stacey Bufkin (member). The physical meeting was held at Anniston-Calhoun County Public Library at 108 East 10th Street, Anniston.
The members of the public at the physical location were Rebekah Myrick and Lauren Collins.
The Board meeting had been advertised on the Secretary of State’s website, in accordance with the Alabama Open Meetings Act. There being a quorum of board members present electronically and at the physical location, Ms Leithart, Board Chairperson, called the meeting to order at 11:01 a.m. and proceeded to preside over the meeting.
Ms. Leithart presented the January 18, 2019, meeting minutes for the Board’s approval. A copy of the minutes was provided to the members prior to the meeting for their review. No corrections or addendums were made. Ms Cavender made a motion to adopt the January 18 meeting minutes. The motion was seconded by Ms Dennis and unanimously approved by the Board.
Ms Leithart reported on communications with Vital Statistics and Medicaid to register Licensed Midwives as providers. Their respective IT departments are working to get online registration active. Ms Leithart also contacted Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) requesting access to the Newborn Metabolic Screening cards. ADPH denied the request, saying that Licensed Midwives must refer the newborn to a physician for the test. Ms Cavender made a motion that the Board request an opinion from the Attorney General regarding access to Newborn Metabolic screening cards by Licensed Midwives. Ms Tullis seconded. Motion carried unanimously. Ms Dennis motioned that Ms Cavender work with Ms Carmack on the wording of this request. Ms Nero seconded, and the motion carried unanimously.
Ms Carmack reported on SAVE. The Board will continue discussion at the next Board meeting.
Ms Dennis motioned to accept Lauren Collin’s application for licensure. Ms Cavender seconded the motion. Roll call vote was taken. Ms Cavender voted aye; Ms Tullis voted aye; Ms Nero voted aye; Ms Leithart voted aye. Ms Collin’s application was approved with unanimous vote.
Ms Leithart informed the Board that more applications have been received and will be considered at the May 3 Board meeting.
Ms Leithart recommended that a deadline be set for Licensed Midwives to return their completed annual statistics report. Discussion will continue at next board meeting. Ms Leithart also reported that the applications procedures have been updated on the website, but that the search feature was not yet active. She recommended that the discussion about the potential social media intern and executive director be moved to the next Board meeting.
Ms Cavender reported that she contacted STAARS. She is working with their IT department to get ASBM set up for deposits and accounts payable. She was informed that the Board needs a physical address rather than a PO Box. Ms Dennis made a motion to transfer the ASBM address from the Post Office box to a mail receptacle with a physical location. Ms Nero seconded the motion. Motion carried with unanimous vote. Ms Leithart committed to establishing a physical address and to be in contact with Ms Cavender and with Debra Arrington at the State Treasury, once the physical address was secured. Ms Arrington informed Ms Cavender that the Board will be able to deposit checks at an agreed upon financial institution. Ms Cavender motioned that the Board use Regions bank for this activity. Ms Dennis seconded the motion. With no objections, the motion carried unanimously.
Ms Tullis tendered her resignation on the complaint review committee. Ms Dennis made a motion to accept the resignation. Ms Cavender seconded motion. Motion carried by unanimous vote. Ms Tullis motioned for Ms Dennis to sit on the Complaint Review Committee. Ms Cavender seconded the motion. Motion carried by unanimous vote.
Ms Carmack recommended someone be the spokesperson of the Board. Ms Dennis made a motion to have a temporary spokesperson for the Board and for Board chair, Ms Leithart to communicate with the media until the Board can address this issue at the May meeting. Ms Nero seconded the motion. The motion was approved by unanimous vote. Ms Nero commented on the vacancy on the Board. As the position must be filled by a Registered Nurse or a Certified Nurse Midwife, Ms Nero is going to try to recruit someone to fill the vacancy.
The Board solicited comments from the public. There were none. Next meeting is on May 3 at Vestavia Hills City Hall.
There was no further business of the Board. Ms. Cavender made a motion to adjourn. Ms. Dennis seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. Ms. Leithart adjourned the meeting at 12:39 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
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Noel J. Leithart
Chair