KENTUCKY HOUSE PASSES BILL FOR FREESTANDING BIRTH CENTERS DESPITE WORRIES

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. View this post on Instagram A post shared by WomanCare (@womancarein) 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...