(b) “ACME” means the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education, or a successor organization that is an accrediting agency for nurse-midwifery and direct-entry midwifery education programs and is approved by the United States Department of Education.

(c) “AIMM” means the Association of Independent Midwives of Maryland or a successor organization that is a professional organization representing independent midwives in the State.

(d) “Board” means the State Board of Nursing.

(e) “Committee” means the Direct-Entry Midwifery Advisory Committee established under § 8-6C-11 of this subtitle.

(f) “Health care practitioner” means:

(1) An individual certified as a nurse-midwife or a nurse practitioner under this title; or

(2) A physician licensed under Title 14 of this article.

(g) (1) “Health care provider” means a health care practitioner or a hospital.

(2) “Health care provider” includes agents or employees of a health care practitioner or a hospital.

(h) “Hospital” has the meaning stated in § 19-301 of the Health – General Article.

(i) “License” means, unless the context requires otherwise, a license issued by the Board to practice direct-entry midwifery.

(j) (1) “Licensed direct-entry midwife” means an individual who has been granted a license under this subtitle to practice direct-entry midwifery.

(2) “Licensed direct-entry midwife” does not include a licensed nurse certified as a nurse-midwife under this title.

(k) “Low-risk pregnancy” means a pregnancy, labor, and delivery and postpartum, newborn, and interconceptional care that does not include a condition that requires a mandatory transfer under § 8-6C-03.

(l) “MEAC” means the Midwifery Education and Accreditation Council, or a successor organization that is a national accreditation agency for midwifery education approved by the United States Department of Education.

(m) “NARM” means the North American Registry of Midwives, or a successor organization that is an international certification agency that establishes and administers certification for the certified professional midwife credential.

(n) (1) “Patient” means a woman for whom a licensed direct-entry midwife performs services.

(2) “Patient” includes a woman’s newborn for the purpose of perinatal or postpartum care.

(o) “Postpartum period” means the first 6 weeks after delivery.

(p) (1) “Practice direct-entry midwifery” means:

(i) Providing maternity care that is consistent with a midwife’s training, education, and experience; and

(ii) Identifying and referring patients who require medical care to an appropriate health care provider.

(2) “Practice direct-entry midwifery” includes the activities described in § 8-6C-02 of this subtitle.