Birth Center Access Varies Widely Across States, New Data Shows
Becker's Hospital Review reports that the American Association of Birth Centers shared Oct. 15 data showing more than 400 birth centers nationwide, ranging from 92 in Texas to zero in 10 states, with six states and Washington, D.C. having just one. AABC's executive director attributed the state-by-state variation to differences in state regulations, midwifery workforce availability, insurance reimbursement, and other sustainability factors. A related Oct. 20 Commonwealth Fund report found birth center births rose to 0.62% of U.S. births in 2024, up from 0.23% in 2004, though access remains uneven across states. The data underscores ongoing gaps in maternity care infrastructure and birthing site options for Medicaid-covered pregnancies in many states.