Building Bridges: Advancing Midwifery-Led Birth Centers with HHS
The American Association of Birth Centers (AABC) recently took a significant step in advocating for birth center and midwifery-led care by meeting with key leaders from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This high-level discussion focused on addressing critical challenges and opportunities shaping the future of maternity care in the United States.
AABC highlighted the well-documented benefits of birth center care: improved maternal and newborn outcomes, fewer medical interventions, and significant cost savings for the healthcare system. A major focus was expanding access to midwifery care by recognizing all credentialed midwife providers—an essential step toward reducing persistent maternal health disparities, particularly in underserved communities.
Another important topic was the potential impact of unbundling global maternity billing codes, and how such changes could affect the quality and accessibility of care. AABC advocated for ensuring no limits on prenatal visits and for the addition of a billing code for birth assistants—both key to recognizing the full scope of care that midwives and birth centers deliver.
The conversation underscored the vital role that birth centers play in the maternity care landscape. With their personalized, community-based approach, birth centers are uniquely positioned to drive improvements in maternal health outcomes. AABC’s advocacy forms part of a broader movement supporting diverse, innovative care models—and ensuring that all families can access safe, high-quality maternity services.
This meeting marks a promising step forward for advocates, providers, and families working toward better maternity care. AABC remains committed to advancing policies that support birth centers and midwifery-led care—helping to shape a healthier, more equitable future for all.
