 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
| Please Help U.S. Birth Centers |
Birth centers are in jeopardy of closing due to an impending change in Medicaid policy. Birth centers have been recognized by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as Medicaid providers since 1987. Recently, however CMS has directed its regional offices to stop federal payments to any state for birth center services. Recently, CMS has disallowed such payment by several state Medicaid Agencies, including Alaska, South Carolina, Texas, and Washington State, and other states WILL follow! This action puts pregnant women at risk of losing access to safe, high quality maternity care! Please Act Now!
Each and every one of you CAN take action to put birth centers on the Congressional radar. The birth community must take the lead on this--Congress won't take any action for us unless it hears from its constituents. AABC's lobbyist Karen Fennell is busy making Congressional visits, but they are saying they have not heard from you--so it must not be important . . .
Right now, Rep. Susan Davis (CA) will sponsor the bill and Rep. Lois Capps (CA) will co-sponsors, but we need many more--including Republicans so it has bi-partisan support.
Call your Representatives and Senators! To find out who they are use these links: Find your Senators - http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Find your Representatives - http://www.house.gov/ - use the tool in the upper left hand corner
Tell them you are a (midwife, staff person or client, neighbor, or supporter of birth options) of a birth center that cares for Medicaid women, and you want to let them know that birth centers are a needed service, and deserve to receive reimbursement! Other birth centers have already closed due to lack of facility reimbursement.
On the House side, ask Democrats to co-sponsor our bill which would add Birth Centers to Medicaid covered services. (Our bill does not have a number yet). Ask House Republicans to be a sponsor or lead. On the Senate side, we need leads and sponsors in both parties.
This is urgent if we want to sustain birth centers in the United States. Please call today. Remember, this is important to the survival of ALL birth centers we are working for--we need 50 calls this week! Please also pass this on to anyone you know who has had or would like to have a baby in a birth center! Thank you for your support!
|
June 23, 2008
Media Contact: Jackie Belau
Jackie@BetterBirthAmerica.com
(916) 995-6398
New Online Resource Aims to Educate Expecting Parents on All Options for Childbirth
Sacramento, CA- Today women researching their pregnancy are bombarded with piles of books and each book suggests on average 25 websites to visit on different topics to research further! Where can women go to research all of their childbirth options with out reading tons of books or doing hours of research? As of August 1, 2008 women across America have a new free resource to find ALL of their options in one place.
Better Birth America is the newest and most comprehensive resource for parents wanting to learn more about their options for labor and the birth of their children, fulfilling a long time need for non-bias information. Better Birth America consists of a network of over 20 websites in the top 20 “Best Cities (in America) to Have a Baby” as judged by Fit Pregnancy Magazine. Each site offers local information for expecting parents in the area while the national site (www.BetterBirthAmerica.com) gives general information for those who are not in the cities listed.
The websites offer information about local resources available to parents as well as different viewpoints and strategies for labor and birth. Some of the in depth information includes: different ways to prepare for childbirth, options for places to have babies, a glossary of pregnancy and childbirth related terms and information on common hospital procedures. Also available are listings for local childbirth educators, doulas, midwives, OB/GYN’s, lactation consultants, nutritionists as well as prenatal fitness, massage and alternative therapies.
“BetterBirthAmerica.com is a website that is committed to educating parents about the options regarding the birth of their baby. We believe that informed parents can make the best decisions for their families. Better Birth does not necessarily mean un-medicated birth, but it does mean that parents have a source to research many different options to guide them to a Better Birth experience,” states Jackie Belau, founder of Better Birth America. Belau, a 24 year old woman, who does not have children of her own, realized that most women were clueless as to the multitude of options available to them in their communities, so she started Better Birth America in the hopes that women could look back favorably at their birth experiences and know they made the best decisions for themselves.
August 1, 2008 Better Birth America will begin a Grand Opening Celebration lasting throughout the month. As part of the celebration, Better Birth America will be giving away daily prizes to those who fill in a poll on any of the website’s main pages.
|
| Copyright 2008 Better Birth America | All Right Reserved. All information contained in this site is for educational purposes only. Professional listings have not been verified by Better Birth America, we are not liable for any claims arising from services rendered. It is our hope that you will use the information responsibly and take all options into consideration before making decisions for your birth. |
| Website Design by LM Designing |