I recently sat down with Stina Sieg to discuss why the struggle birth centers face in getting AHCCCS coverage for our services. Ms. Sieg also interviewed AHCCCS spokesperson Heidi Capriotti. According to AHCCCS:
“We haven’t heard directly from members that that’s their preference,” said AHCCCS spokesperson Heidi Capriotti.
Capriotti explained that if you’re a mom-to-be on AHCCCS and a birthing center experience is something you want, you should definitely contact her agency. But that’s probably not enough.
You’ve got to contact managed care provider – your health-care plan. They’re the ones who set the reimbursement rates. And Capriotti said they’re the ones who ultimately choose whether or not to include birthing centers in their coverage.
“But we are actively working with our managed care providers to explore options to expand the number of birthing centers available to our members,” she said.
If you are a member – do you agree? It’s time to call AHCCCS and let them know that you do want birth center care! Let’s actively work together for the change we want to see.
When I first experienced the birth center model of care as a client, I was so focused on the excellent prenatal care and different model for birth that I did not realize “birth center” encompasses so much more. As we explored the model of care in our start-up phase looking at other birth centers, the depth of the community support and access point for the medical system was our goal.
The Business of Being Born recently featured the Health Foundations Birth Center in Minnesota, who has beautifully achieved this “birth center” model of care with the depth of services that have come to define the birth center experience. Amy Johnson-Grass, the birth center’s founder and the current President of the American Association of Birth Centers explains:
We are unique because we are a lot more than just a birth center and midwifery practice. We are truly an integrative practice with a huge spectrum of offerings on-site. We are not only familiar with herbs, homeopathy, nutrition, and counseling, but we are also prescribers. Plus, we have other providers that work with us too, like chiropractors and acupuncturists. We’re a lactation center. We’re an education center with lots of different class offerings. And, we offer quite a few services for women, outside of maternity care, like annual exams, problem visits, and contraception offerings. This continuity of care (even extending to their kids with our Pediatricians!) really allows for us to focus on community building, which is so important because so many of us lack it. So we hold many events to continue and build those connections ranging from larger gatherings like Every Woman Can to smaller retreats, family picnics, and annual Valentine’s Day party…during Christmas we have about 100 kids come through to see Santa!
Babymoon Inn is a full-scope midwifery practice and wellness center with locations in Phoenix and Tucson. Our team is committed to improving maternal outcomes and providing personalized, evidence-based care to all people.
Babymoon Inn is a full-scope midwifery practice and wellness center with locations in Phoenix and Tucson. Our team is committed to improving maternal outcomes and providing personalized, evidence-based care to all people.