State regulators back freestanding birth centers but ask clarifying language on scope, pharmacy oversight

The Secretary of State's Office and the Office of Professional Regulation told the Vermont House Committee on Health Care that they support S.18, legislation to license freestanding birth centers, but asked lawmakers to tighten definitions and rulemaking consultation around medication storage and scope of services.

Deputy Secretary of State Lauren Hibbert, representing the Secretary of State and OPR, said the agencies "support the creation of freestanding birth centers" and recommended amending the bill to define what counts as a "low risk" birth and to state explicitly that epidurals and cesarean deliveries are prohibited on site. "We think that the definition for what is a low risk birth should be added to the bill," Hibbert said.

Why it matters: the bill would create a licensing pathway for facilities intended to serve people with uncomplicated pregnancies who want a non‑hospital setting. Regulators want the statute and later rules to make clear which procedures and medications are allowed so pharmacies, clinicians and inspectors apply consistent safety standards.

Key points from testimony and discussion

- Scope and definitions: OPR recommended adding a statutory definition of "low risk" because the draft bill repeatedly uses the term without specifying medical criteria. The office also asked legislators to explicitly prohibit onsite epidurals and cesarean sections to limit the centers' procedural scope.

- Pharmacy and medication oversight: OPR said it does not expect freestanding…