Texas Health and Human Services Commission Executive Director, Thomas Suehs
TX Medicaid and CHIP Director Billy Milwee
Health and Human Services Council of Texas
We urge you to cover all facility fees and services provided by Licensed Midwives in Texas Birth Centers. Texas Medicaid must comply with the Birth Center section of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (aka the Healthcare Reform Act). That law requires all state Medicaid plans to:
1) cover all facility fees of birth centers (including those owned or operated by Licensed Midwives); and
2) cover the professional fees of Licensed Midwives who provide prenatal care and birthing services in birth centers
Complying with this law would save the State of Texas millions of dollars each year, as demonstrated in other states. Numerous studies have proven that low-risk women who choose out-of-hospital births with Licensed Midwives receive excellent care and outcomes at a fraction of the cost of hospital births. In Texas, Licensed Midwives and Certified Nurse Midwives provide care for women in 216 counties, including 115 counties without an obstetrician (9/2008). The American Public Health Association supports "the expansion of midwifery as a key strategy to improving access to care for childbearing families."
Texas' maternal health outcomes are among the worst in the United States (22.3 maternal deaths vs. 13.3 maternal deaths nationally). Texans need better access to high quality, low-cost prenatal and birthing services. Texas Medicaid should guarantee Medicaid recipients the same choices available to those with private insurance, especially when those services cost less than what taxpayers currently pay.
Please conserve scarce state funds by giving Medicaid patients access to high-quality, low-cost maternity service. Cover all services provided by Licensed Midwives in birth centers. Further savings could also be realized by covering ALL Medicaid-eligible births attended by Licensed Midwives and Certified Nurse Midwives.
Updates
July 25, 2012
Reaching five hundred signatures brings a new level of focus to our goal of ensuring accessible birth options for Texas families. This volume of support proves that many people recognize the urgent need for Medicaid to align with federal standards and value the role of midwives.
Reached 500 supporters
July 24, 2012
July 22, 2012
Reaching five hundred signatures marks a significant turning point in our efforts to advocate for equitable maternal health coverage in Texas. Please consider sending this petition directly to someone who values patient choice and fiscal responsibility in healthcare as we prepare to present these findings to state officials.
February 8, 2012
The stories coming in from families across our state highlight the urgent need for wider access to safe birthing options. I have been spending my time documenting these experiences to ensure that officials understand the human reality behind the current policy gaps.
Reached 100 supporters
February 16, 2011
8 Comments
Anything to help Midwifery services! These experienced and intelligent women understand so much about women's bodies. They have practiced and proven their worth for centuries. There is no reason why these services should not be covered for low-risk women.
Midwives provide a valuable service to women, especially in at risk populations. Please support the full scope of midwifery practice, the care they are certified to provide.
I would like to ask for your support in keeping midwifery alive for millions of women in Texas. It allows us the option to have a birth under the care of a licensed professional who will provide the utmost care to our unborn and birthed children. With that said, the pressure by doctors to to perform a Cesarean section is minimized or eliminated. I believe this to be a very important issue to be discussed because every woman deserves the right to choose how and where they will give birth.
I believe this option is safer and friendlier for mom and baby!! It is also less expinsive so it seems outrageous that it is Nt available for medicade to pay for such good care!!
As a doula, I urge you, PLEASE allow moms of all income levels to be served by all licensed midwifes! By insuring medicaid would cover all midwifes, the load on OBs would be lessoned and better care would be provided to the many women on medicaid.
I would like to ask for your support in keeping midwifery alive for millions of women in Texas. It allows us the option to have a birth under the care of a licensed professional who will provide the utmost care to our unborn and birthed children. With that said, the pressure by doctors to to perform a Cesarean section is minimized or eliminated. I believe this to be a very important issue to be discussed because every woman deserves the right to choose how and where they will give birth.
Midwives provide an amazing option for mothers to-be, and less expensive facilities too! Please allow Texas Medicaid to cover midwife costs and services. Thank you, God bless!
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Texas Health and Human Services Commission Executive Director, Thomas Suehs
TX Medicaid and CHIP Director Billy Milwee
Health and Human Services Council of Texas
We urge you to cover all facility fees and services provided by Licensed Midwives in Texas Birth Centers. Texas Medicaid must comply with the Birth Center section of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (aka the Healthcare Reform Act). That law requires all state Medicaid plans to:
1) cover all facility fees of birth centers (including those owned or operated by Licensed Midwives); and
2) cover the professional fees of Licensed Midwives who provide prenatal care and birthing services in birth centers
Complying with this law would save the State of Texas millions of dollars each year, as demonstrated in other states. Numerous studies have proven that low-risk women who choose out-of-hospital births with Licensed Midwives receive excellent care and outcomes at a fraction of the cost of hospital births. In Texas, Licensed Midwives and Certified Nurse Midwives provide care for women in 216 counties, including 115 counties without an obstetrician (9/2008). The American Public Health Association supports "the expansion of midwifery as a key strategy to improving access to care for childbearing families."
Texas' maternal health outcomes are among the worst in the United States (22.3 maternal deaths vs. 13.3 maternal deaths nationally). Texans need better access to high quality, low-cost prenatal and birthing services. Texas Medicaid should guarantee Medicaid recipients the same choices available to those with private insurance, especially when those services cost less than what taxpayers currently pay.
Please conserve scarce state funds by giving Medicaid patients access to high-quality, low-cost maternity service. Cover all services provided by Licensed Midwives in birth centers. Further savings could also be realized by covering ALL Medicaid-eligible births attended by Licensed Midwives and Certified Nurse Midwives.
Updates
July 25, 2012
Reaching five hundred signatures brings a new level of focus to our goal of ensuring accessible birth options for Texas families. This volume of support proves that many people recognize the urgent need for Medicaid to align with federal standards and value the role of midwives.
Reached 500 supporters
July 24, 2012
July 22, 2012
Reaching five hundred signatures marks a significant turning point in our efforts to advocate for equitable maternal health coverage in Texas. Please consider sending this petition directly to someone who values patient choice and fiscal responsibility in healthcare as we prepare to present these findings to state officials.
February 8, 2012
The stories coming in from families across our state highlight the urgent need for wider access to safe birthing options. I have been spending my time documenting these experiences to ensure that officials understand the human reality behind the current policy gaps.
Reached 100 supporters
February 16, 2011
8 Comments
we need midwives to be able to get paid by Medicaid not everyone wants to birth their child in these hospitals that don't care about these patients or build a connection with them.
Anything to help Midwifery services! These experienced and intelligent women understand so much about women's bodies. They have practiced and proven their worth for centuries. There is no reason why these services should not be covered for low-risk women.
Midwives provide a valuable service to women, especially in at risk populations. Please support the full scope of midwifery practice, the care they are certified to provide.
I would like to ask for your support in keeping midwifery alive for millions of women in Texas. It allows us the option to have a birth under the care of a licensed professional who will provide the utmost care to our unborn and birthed children. With that said, the pressure by doctors to to perform a Cesarean section is minimized or eliminated. I believe this to be a very important issue to be discussed because every woman deserves the right to choose how and where they will give birth.
I believe this option is safer and friendlier for mom and baby!! It is also less expinsive so it seems outrageous that it is Nt available for medicade to pay for such good care!!
As a doula, I urge you, PLEASE allow moms of all income levels to be served by all licensed midwifes! By insuring medicaid would cover all midwifes, the load on OBs would be lessoned and better care would be provided to the many women on medicaid.
I would like to ask for your support in keeping midwifery alive for millions of women in Texas. It allows us the option to have a birth under the care of a licensed professional who will provide the utmost care to our unborn and birthed children. With that said, the pressure by doctors to to perform a Cesarean section is minimized or eliminated. I believe this to be a very important issue to be discussed because every woman deserves the right to choose how and where they will give birth.
Midwives provide an amazing option for mothers to-be, and less expensive facilities too! Please allow Texas Medicaid to cover midwife costs and services. Thank you, God bless!
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we need midwives to be able to get paid by Medicaid not everyone wants to birth their child in these hospitals that don't care about these patients or build a connection with them.