Help make Birth Centers Available to More Women

It seems that the only work Congress is doing relates to repealing the Health Care Reform mandates and budget cuts.  BUT much more is happening in DC.  Congress is passing bills that are not as controversial.  Bills like reauthorization bills, new initiatives and more have passed in 2011 already.  We want the Birth and Women's Health Center Act to be among the new initiatives that get passed.

AABC's goal is to expand Birth Centers and give all women and their families' access to quality, cost-effective care. The BWHC Act strengthens the foundation to meet our goal. All Birth Centers, for-profit and non-profit, benefit from a strong foundation. We need your help to make this a reality.

ACTION STEPS

Bipartisan support is critical to our efforts. We are looking for lead sponsors and co-sponsors on both sides of the aisle in the House and Senate.

1. Call your Representatives and Senators (U.S. Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121). Ask to speak to  your Senator's or Representative's  health legislative aide.
2. Ask them to sponsor or co-sponsor the Birth and Women's Health Center Act.
3. Tell them that Karen Fennell is AABC's lobbyist and she would like to meet with them. Ask for their contact information (name, direct telephone and email).
4. Please notify Karen Fennell (AABC's lobbyist): Tell her who you talked with and any comments or additional information requested and the contact information of the person you spoke with. Call Karen at 301-830-3910 or send an email to fennell.karen.s@gmail.com.

Suggested Talking Points

Making the connection...

Increasing maternity costs and poor outcomes will continue unless we change the way we pay for and deliver care. There are over 18,000 billing codes in this country for separate units of care. There are no billing codes for prevention, better outcomes, or care linkages. Freestanding Birth Centers are the key to better maternity and infant outcomes at significantly lower costs.  (Offer to email Fact Sheet, Birth Center Savings Chart.)

Saving Taxpayers Money....

The BWHC Act is an authorization bill.  As such, it gives Congress the authority to make grants available to birth centers and sets funding limits. (Do not use the word "program", they will tune out.)

The BWHC Act will save money. Women will continue to have babies. By investing in the expansion of the freestanding birth center model of care, we will reap savings in Medicaid and private insurance programs.  It's like investing in your home to make it more energy efficient.  A little money up front will save you a lot down the road.

Expanding Eligibility for Grants...

Since Birth Centers are relatively new to Congress, we are not included in the grants that are currently available. For example, the recent grants made available for IT funding for facilities did not include Birth Centers.

Proposed Legislation...

Under the proposed legislation, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services would make funding available to public and nonprofit entities for the following projects:

• Planning grants for the development of new Birth and Women's Health Centers
• Operating grants including construction grants
• Grants to support models of care that focus on reducing infant mortality and disparities for women and babies
• Access grants for clients with limited English speaking proficiency
• Grants that focus on treating obesity or diabetes
• Grants that focus on adolescents or on instituting the "centering pregnancy" model of care
• Grants to utilize or incorporate telehealth applications into services
• Grants that allow the center to expand dental health or mental health services for pregnant or postpartum women, or pediatric services for infants and children.

Email the staff the summary of the proposed legislation.

Help us create a win-win for all: reduced health care spending and healthy mothers and babies.