What are the pros and cons of being in-network? Is it always better than being out-of-network?  Join Industry Relations Committee (IRC) members Steven Hall and Fran Schwartz to discuss the ins and outs of networking and strategies to get the contract you deserve. A benefit of AABC membership.  Registration is required.

Next Office Hours

Wednesday, October 16th at 1:00PM ET
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IRC Office Hours Leaders

Elizabeth Simmons

Elizabeth Simmons, MS is the Financial Director of The Birth Center of Boulder. Elizabeth founded the birth center with two other women in 2014 and has worked diligently to ensure the financial health and stability of the center. Elizabeth also enjoys teaching prenatal and reunion classes for BCoB clients and families.  At the national level, Elizabeth chairs the AABC Industry Relations Committee.

Cynthia Flynn

Cynthia Bullock Flynn, CNM, PhD, FACNM has extensive management experience, having served as executive director of The Birth Center, Bryn Mawr, PA; the general director of Family Health and Birth Center, Washington DC, where she negotiated the merger of the birth center with a Federally Qualified Health Center in order to provide stable financing; and founder/owner of Columbia Women’s Clinic and Birth Center, Kennewick, WA.   At the national level, she is a past president of the American Association of Birth Centers (AABC), and serves on the AABC Government Affairs and Research Committees as well as the Legislative and Policy Committee of the Midwives Association of Washington State (MAWS).  Additionally, she has provided consulting for organizations wishing to start, expand, sustain or replicate midwifery practices and/or birth centers in order to increase access for healthy women to a proven method of obtaining a safe delivery.  

STEVEN HALL

Steven Hall, MBA is the co-founder and finance director of Babymoon Inn in Phoenix, where he provides strategic direction and manages the birth center’s finances, accounting, information technology, and insurance billing. Prior to (and during) his role at Babymoon Inn, Steven was a consultant firms such a Navigant Consulting, FTI Consulting and  Business Valuation Advisors. After seeing first-hand the incredible service provided by midwives and birth centers, Steven realized that this was a cottage industry that needed to grow!  Throughout his consulting career, Steven has advised many businesses in the healthcare industry and is excited to be able to combine his experience with a personal passion. He has served on the AABC Board of Directors as Treasurer and has chaired the Industry Relations Committee.

Fran Schwartz

Fran Schwartz JD, is the founder and CEO of Integral Healthcare for Women, a consulting group in maternity care solutions with over 20 years’ experience in executive management of ob/gyn, midwifery and birth center providers. She was the CEO and executive director of the Brooklyn Birthing Center, New York and for the past five years, Fran served as a director on the AABC board and chairperson of the AABC Industry Relations Committee. She championed national efforts in promoting greater birth center acceptance and higher reimbursement rates. In her consulting practice, she has worked with a full range of birthing centers in their respective lifecycles, including start-ups, midwife-founders exiting, and restructuring operations. 

Laura Wiegand

Laura Wiegand currently serves as the COO/Co-Founder of Birth Partners, Inc. She successfully managed the opening of the Birth Center of Bloomington Normal in Illinois and assisted with opening Beginnings Birth Center, Colorado Springs, Colorado.  She is in the process of opening two other birth centers.  At the national level, she severs on the AABC Industry Relations Committee. She works at the state and local level to educate the public, medical communities and health insurance providers about the benefits of the midwifery model of care including better patient outcomes, reduced costs for families and payors.   Laura is also the Administrator at Obstetrics and Gynecology Care Associates in Bloomington IL.  With over 20 years practice management experience, Laura has made a career of directing multiple site operations, while securing financial results and building a team that focuses on maximizing patient care and the entire the patient experience.  Laura serves as a resource for all aspects of practice management and birth center operations.