The American Association of Birth Centers has issued an appeal to supporters to contact Congress concerning a payment crisis that threatens insurance support for birth centers around the country.

After more than 20 years of providing funding, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) — the federal agency that runs Medicare/Medicaid — is now refusing to pay the federal percentage of Medicaid payments that states might make to birth centers.

“This is not a Medicaid crisis but a payment crisis for birth centers,” according to the AABC. “Historically all payers follow the lead of Medicaid. If Medicaid stops paying the birth center facility fee so will other insurers.”

http://www.ourbodiesourblog.org/blog/2008/09/ask-congress-to-ensure-funding-for-birth-centers