Bills filed to expand access to midwifery care, birth centers, and home births
New legislation to expand access to midwives, home birth, and birth centers has been filed in Massachusetts for the 2023-2024 legislative session.
Everyone in Massachusetts should be able to choose where they give birth and the type of maternity care that is most appropriate for their needs. Unfortunately, our state currently lags the nation when it comes to access to midwives, birth centers, home birth, and integration of care -- models that can reverse our rising maternal mortality and growing racial inequities in birth outcomes. Together, these priority bills will propel Massachusetts to a position of leadership in healthy, equitable access to maternity care and birthing choices.
H.2209/S.1457, An Act promoting access to midwifery care and out-of-hospital birth options, was filed by Representative Kay Khan, Representative Brandy Fluker Oakley, and Senator Becca Rausch to create a pathway to licensure for certified professional midwives and make their care reimbursable by Medicaid/MassHealth.
H.3616/S.1335, An Act updating the regulations governing licensed birth centers in Massachusetts, was filed by Representative Manny Cruz, Representative Chynah Tyler, and Senator Jo Comerford to address burdensome and outdated birth center regulations.
S.1415, An Act relative to birthing justice in the Commonwealth, is a package of legislation filed by Senator Liz Miranda, and includes language of both the midwifery and birth center bills as well as additional urgently needed policies to improve maternity care and birth outcomes and address longstanding racial inequities.