BABIES Act Reintroduced in the House
This week, U.S. Representative Kelly Morrison (MN-03) reintroduced the BABIES Act (H.R. 5202) in the 19th Congress, joined by co-lead Representative Ashley Hinson (IA-02). This bipartisan legislation would expand access to birth centers and strengthen maternity care nationwide through Medicaid.
“We commend Rep. Kelly Morrison and Rep. Ashley Hinson for taking action to expand access to midwifery-led birth center care,” said Trinisha Williams, MPH, CM, LCCE, CLC, President of the American Association of Birth Centers. “Midwives and birth centers offer a proven, high-value model for maternity care and are essential in addressing shortages, particularly in rural and underserved communities.”
The BABIES Act establishes a federally funded Birth and Women’s Health Center demonstration program to improve access to quality, affordable maternity care. Specifically, the bill directs the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to create a Medicaid demonstration project for freestanding birth centers serving women with low-risk pregnancies. The program would:
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Pilot a prospective payment model for birth center facility and professional services for Medicaid beneficiaries.
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Prioritize birth centers in areas facing maternity care deserts and poor health outcomes.
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Provide new HRSA-administered grants to support start-up costs for birth centers, including renovation or construction, equipment purchase, and accreditation or licensure.
“As an OB-GYN, I am passionate about addressing our nation’s maternal health care crisis and making sure that every woman can get the pre- and post-natal care she and her baby need and deserve,” said Congresswoman Morrison. “The health of our mothers and babies should never be a partisan issue – and I’m proud to work across the aisle once again to make sure everyone has access to maternity care.”
“It’s unacceptable that many expecting moms—especially in rural Iowa—lack access to adequate maternal health care because they live in maternity care deserts. Every mother deserves quality care before, during, and after pregnancy, no matter her zip code,” said Congresswoman Hinson. “I applaud Iowa’s Governor Reynolds for supporting the expansion of birthing centers in Iowa, and I’m thrilled to help reintroduce the BABIES Act to expand access to quality maternal health care nationwide. I will continue leading in this fight for as long as it takes to guarantee moms everywhere have the support they deserve through pregnancy and beyond.”
The BABIES Act (S.1598) was reintroduced in the Senate earlier this year by Senator Ben Ray Luján (NM).
AABC encourages people to contact their legislators and ask them to co-sponsor this important legislation.