The state of Washington is taking an innovative step toward tackling rising cesarean section rates by eliminating the profit motive. Beginning this month, the state’s Medicaid reimbursement for uncomplicated cesarean sections dropped from approximately $3,600 to about $1,000—the same reimbursement provided for complicated vaginal birth.
Because the cost of vaginal birth is lower than the cost of c-section, the new payment structure rewards health care providers for supporting vaginal birth rather than for performing c-sections. Nearly half of all births in Washington are reimbursed through Medicaid, so the change is expected to have far-reaching effects. In fact, the state has already received calls from hospitals requesting assistance to revise the protocols they use to decide when a cesarean section is necessary.
A recent Crosscut.com article by Carolyn McConnell explains why this is an excellent way to improve maternal and infant health. It’s also in line with #5 and #7 of ACNM’s Seven Key Principles for Health Reform.
What do you think? Would you like to see the rest of the country adopt Washington’s new strategy?
Showing posts with label current events. Show all posts
Showing posts with label current events. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Are You In The Know?
Straight from the ACNM Communications Department, here are our top picks for happenings in midwifery for the week:
Authors of an Obstetrics & Gynecology article say they encourage midwifery care and “support future randomized trials to compare” home vs. hospital births. The statement comes in response to a letter from certified nurse-midwife Judith Rooks and Our Bodies, Ourselves Executive Director Judy Norsigian.
A midwife wrote an interesting article for Tuesday’s New York Times entitled “In a Lifeless Birth, a Midwife’s Opened Eyes.”
A fatal Metro collision happened between Washington, DC, and Silver Spring, MD—home of ACNM. Thankfully, the one ACNM staffer in the accident escaped with only a few bruises.
Saturday, June 27, is National HIV Testing Day.
Health reform is still hot, and ACNM is involved. We just posted legislation of interest to ACNM members here.
What else is going on in your world? Feel free to add to our list!
Authors of an Obstetrics & Gynecology article say they encourage midwifery care and “support future randomized trials to compare” home vs. hospital births. The statement comes in response to a letter from certified nurse-midwife Judith Rooks and Our Bodies, Ourselves Executive Director Judy Norsigian.
A midwife wrote an interesting article for Tuesday’s New York Times entitled “In a Lifeless Birth, a Midwife’s Opened Eyes.”
A fatal Metro collision happened between Washington, DC, and Silver Spring, MD—home of ACNM. Thankfully, the one ACNM staffer in the accident escaped with only a few bruises.
Saturday, June 27, is National HIV Testing Day.
Health reform is still hot, and ACNM is involved. We just posted legislation of interest to ACNM members here.
What else is going on in your world? Feel free to add to our list!
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