Expanding Access to Birth Centers and Improving Medicaid Maternity Payments.
This law aims to increase the availability of safe, out-of-hospital maternity care, especially in areas lacking facilities. It establishes grants for starting or expanding independent birth centers and launches a Medicaid pilot program to test new, comprehensive payment models for low-risk births. This provides greater choice and potentially better health outcomes for mothers and newborns, particularly for low-income families.
Key points
Federal grants (up to $500,000) are available to open or expand birth centers in regions designated as maternity care shortage areas.
A Medicaid demonstration program will test new, comprehensive payment methods for low-risk births in birth centers, covering prenatal and postpartum care.
Participating birth centers must meet strict safety standards, including accreditation, established hospital transfer plans, and required physician consultation.
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