The Kentucky legislature seems to be working around-the-clock, focusing on legislation that pertains to the world of Obstetrics. Recently, the Kentucky Senate passed a bill that focuses on retroactively allowing child support for fetuses, and now it is the House’s turn. Earlier this week, the Kentucky House passed a bill for freestanding birth centers despite worries among both lawmakers and healthcare providers.
Before we talk about legislation, let’s define exactly what “freestanding birth centers” are.
According to the American Association of Birth Centers, a freestanding birth center is defined as a facility where birth is planned to take place away from the hospital and away from the person’s residence. The care in a freestanding birth center is provided in the midwifery and wellness model. Freestanding birth centers geared towards mothers with pregnancies deemed as low-risk.
Most businesses, like a freestanding birth center, should have what is called a Certificate of need, or CON in place for protection. A CON certifies that there is a need for a service, be that extra beds in a hospital, an extra MRI machine or a new facility altogether.
The new Kentucky House Bill 199, would, in addition to other things, remove the Certificate of need requirement for freestanding birth centers. The Kentucky Birth Coalition, in addition to several lawmakers state that is requirement is a large barrier to opening new facilities in the state.
House Bill 199 It passed the House Standing Committee on Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations. The vote yielded 13 yays, no nays, and five passes.
However, after the bills passing, sponsor, Rep. Jason Nemes, R-Louisville, told the committee that he would “not seek for this to be moved to the floor” without introducing amendments to resolve the concerns raised by other lawmakers and healthcare professional.
Just what are some of those concerns? Well, some of those concerns include:
- safety of giving birth at freestanding birthing facilities
- unforeseen medical complications like preeclampsia or uterine rupture
- the need for oversight intervention and collaborative work with medical personal, etc.
St. Elizabeth Healthcare obstetrician Dr. Allana Oak said during the vote that she wants to also see House Bill 199 “add in the very important presence of an obstetrician or a physician to help oversee and work collaboratively with the midwives that are delivering at the freestanding birth centers.”
Dr. Oak went on to say in conclusion that, without this type of collaborative effort and oversight “by experienced providers, physicians, this could be catastrophic.”
Photo: Tree of Life Family Birth Center; Canva.com
