Budget Update: $1M for birth centers!

In May, the Massachusetts Senate passed a budget that included unprecedented state funding for birth centers. Senator Liz Miranda’s amendment passed unanimously to provide $1M for the development and operation of nonprofit freestanding birth centers like Neighborhood Birth Center and other community based maternal health organizations. In addition, $150K was allocated to Seven Sisters Birth Center to support their doula program.

What’s next?

The Senate & House will reconcile their respective budgets in a “conference committee” before a final budget is passed by the legislature and sent to the Governor. We will keep you posted!

Update, August 9, 2023

Governor Maura Healey has signed the Massachusetts state budget into law which includes $1M for nonprofit birth centers and maternal health orgs, $150K for Seven Sisters doula program, and $1M to reopen Cambridge Birth Center.

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Thank YOU SENATE budget amendment cosponsors

Senate budget amendment #561 provided $1,000,000 to support freestanding birth centers and community-based maternal health organizations. The amendment PASSED unanimously!

Lead sponsor: Sen. Liz Miranda

Cosponsors:

Sen. Michael Barrett
Sen. Michael Brady
Sen. Cynthia Creem
Sen. Brendan Crighton
Sen. Lydia Edwards
Sen. James Eldridge
Sen. Adam Gomez
Sen. Patricia Jehlen
Sen. John Keenan

Sen. Robyn Kennedy
Sen. Jason Lewis
Sen. Joan Lovely
Sen. Paul Mark
Sen. Mark Montigny
Sen. Pavel Payano
Sen. Becca Rausch
Sen. Michael Rush
Sen. Walter Timilty

Ways and Means Vice Chair Senator Cindy Friedman and Assistant Vice Chair Senator Joanne Comerford also worked to get the budget amendment adopted and were among a handful of Senators who spoke in support on the Senate floor before the vote.

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Thank YOU House budget amendment cosponsors!

In April, the House ultimately did not adopt budget amendments for birth centers and midwifery. Despite this disappointing outcome in the House, we celebrate the progress made in demonstrating the urgency and public demand for midwifery and birth options. Thanks to your advocacy, 50 House Reps signed on!

The following State Reps cosponsored House budget amendments #504 funding for Neighborhood Birth Center and #1013 promoting access to midwifery and out-of-hospital birth options. Those listed cosponsored both amendments unless otherwise specified.

Rep. James Arena-DeRosa
Rep. Jennifer Balinsky Armini
Rep. Bruce Ayers
Rep. Christine Barber (Cosponsored #504)
Rep. Daniel Cahill
Rep. Simon Cataldo
Rep. Tackey Chan
Rep. Michelle Ciccolo (Cosponsored #1013)
Rep. Mike Connolly
Rep. Rob Consalvo
Rep. Manny Cruz
Rep. Marjorie Decker
Rep. Mindy Domb (Cosponsored #504)
Rep. Kate Donaghue
Rep. Patricia Duffy
Rep. Rodney Elliott
Rep. Kimberly Ferguson (Cosponsored #1013)
Rep. Dylan Fernandes
Rep. Brandy Fluker Oakley (lead sponsor #504, cosponsor #1013)
Rep. Sean Garballey
Rep. Carmine Gentile (Cosponsored #1013)
Rep. Susan Gifford (Cosponsored #1013)
Rep. James Hawkins (Cosponsored #1013)
Rep. Natalie Higgins
Rep. Russell Holmes
Rep. Kevin Honan
Rep. Vanna Howard
Rep. Bradley Jones (Cosponsored #1013)

Rep. Hannah Kane
Rep. Kay Khan (lead sponsor #1013, cosponsor #504)
Rep. David LeBoeuf
Rep. Jack Lewis (cosponsored #504)
Rep. David Linsky
Rep. Adrian Madaro
Rep. Paul McMurtry (cosponsored #504)
Rep. Joan Meschino (Cosponsored #1013)
Rep. Rady Mom (cosponsored #504)
Rep. Samantha Montaño
Rep. Brian Murray
Rep. Tram Nguyen
Rep. James O'Day
Rep. Steven Owens
Rep. Estela Reyes (Cosponsored #1013)
Rep. David Robertson
Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa
Rep. Danillo Sena
Rep. Thomas Stanley
Rep. Jeffrey Turco
Rep. Chynah Tyler
Rep. Steven Ultrino
Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven
Rep. Marcus Vaughn
Rep. Tommy Vitolo
Rep. Susannah Whipps
Rep. Bud Williams