Birth Center Regulations

Licensing birth centers is crucial because mandatory federal reimbursement from Medicaid and other sources requires birth centers to be state-licensed. This ensures that families have access to safe, community-based maternity care that is also financially accessible. It is equally important that when licensing Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs), statutes explicitly state that they are authorized to practice in all community settings, both home and birth center . The Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandates that if a birth center is licensed, then all licensed providers practicing within it must be reimbursed by Medicaid for services rendered, regardless of whether those providers are explicitly listed in the Social Security Act. Recognition of this provision is essential for expanding access to high-quality, cost-effective maternity care and ensuring the financial sustainability of birth centers and the midwives who practice within them.