May, 2009

Dear Senators and Representatives,

We, the undersigned, call upon the United States Congress to support the right of families to choose their place of birth. When women give birth in hospitals, we all know that Medicaid pays the hospitals for their services. But now, we’ve learned that a judge ruled that Medicaid does not have to pay a birth center for its services if that’s where we choose to have our babies. This doesn’t seem fair to the many families who rely on Medicaid, and it will put a lot of birth centers out of business. Medicaid has already stopped paying in some states, and some birth centers have had to close. Whether or not we have used birth centers ourselves, we still don’t think it makes sense for Medicaid to pay the hospital but not the birth center, especially since the birth center charges are lower than hospital charges. We understand that the only way to fix this is for Congress to pass legislation that would direct Medicaid to pay birth center facility fees, just like they pay hospital facility fees. We think Amanda speaks for us all:

I was lucky enough to have access to a wonderful birth center and great midwives for two of my three children. My third was not born in a birth center because our birth center had closed [after Medicaid stopped paying in Washington]. Being able to give birth at a birth center was a great option for me. The birth center was comfortable and homey but also equipped with supplies in case of an emergency and was located just a few blocks from the area hospital. I was able to labor and give birth in complete privacy without noise and distraction. Using a birth tub easily took at least 30-40% of the pain and pressure of labor and birth away. I highly recommend birth centers! I hope more women and their families get the opportunity and privilege to give birth at a birth center.

Sincerely,
Amanda Booth

Some of us have posted additional comments which we hope you will read. Please sponsor or co-sponsor legislation that tells Medicaid to pay birth centers before more have to close and more families lose this option!!