Lawmakers review bill to license freestanding birth centers in Vermont

A legislative committee reviewed S.18, a bill to create a state licensure process for freestanding birth centers and to require health insurers and, if approved by CMS, Medicaid to cover prenatal, maternity, postpartum and newborn services provided at licensed birth centers.

Legislative counsel Jen Carby, of the Office of Legislative Council, told the committee S.18 was “voted out of…as amended by Senate Health and Welfare” and that the language being reviewed reflected the committee amendment; she also said the Senate was on a reconsideration day and the bill had not been sent to the House.

The bill would add a new chapter in Title 18 establishing a birth center license for facilities whose primary purpose is midwifery care, low‑risk deliveries and newborn care for stays generally under 24 hours. The bill defines eligible providers, requires an application and inspection by the Department of Health or its designee, and sets a $250 application fee deposited into the Hospital Licensing Fees Special Fund to offset licensing costs. It would require the Department to adopt rules based on the National Birth Center Standards published by the American Association of Birth Centers.

Key procedural and scope provisions require…