Commonwealth Fund Report Finds 10 States Lack Birth Centers
The Commonwealth Fund released a report finding 10 states, including Arkansas, Hawaii, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Rhode Island and Vermont, have no birth centers, while eight more have only one. Birth centers, typically staffed by midwives, serve low-risk pregnancies and are linked to better maternal and infant health outcomes, with disproportionate use by Black, Indigenous and Hispanic patients who face higher rates of poor birth outcomes. The report attributes recent closures to tight state regulations, rising malpractice insurance costs and low Medicaid reimbursement rates, noting about 40% of birth center patients pay out of pocket. Researchers suggest pairing birth centers with community health centers, which can share malpractice coverage, billing infrastructure and patient populations, as a model to expand access and improve outcomes, particularly for Medicaid-insured patients.