California’s first licensed and accredited birth center recently closed its doors, shedding light on the challenges expectant mothers face in accessing healthcare in the state. With nearly 50 maternity wards shutting down in the past decade, creating “maternity care deserts,” some patients turn to alternatives like birth centers run by midwives.
However, these midwives are struggling to keep their businesses afloat, with at least 19 birth centers reducing services or closing in the past four years. The tough financial and regulatory standards for licensing birth centers in California are a significant barrier, leading to delays, high costs, and retrofitting requirements that may not align with the scope of practice.
Advocates argue that the state’s licensing process needs reform to prevent more closures. They suggest exempting birth centers from certain health building codes and increasing reimbursement rates for low-income patients on Medi-Cal. The president of the state chapter of the American Association of Birth Centers emphasizes the need for legislative intervention to address these issues.
Best Start Birth Center founder, Roberta Frank, calls the system “flawed” and “set up to prevent providers that can provide really good care from even getting started.” While the California Department of Health Care Services emphasizes the need for facilities to meet “minimum standards” for patient care, advocates believe more can be done to support birth centers and improve access to maternity care in the state.
To learn more about the challenges facing birth centers in California, read the full story by CalMatters health reporter, Kristen Hwang.
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