Bill > S0018

This bill establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework for licensing freestanding birth centers in Vermont, defining them as facilities primarily providing midwifery care and low-risk deliveries for stays generally less than 24 hours. The legislation requires birth centers to obtain a license from the Department of Health, prohibits them from offering epidural anesthesia or cesarean deliveries, and mandates that they can only be operated by licensed maternity care providers who meet specific requirements. The bill outlines detailed provisions for licensing, including application procedures, a $250 licensing fee, and requirements for facility inspections, with the Department of Health empowered to condition, deny, suspend, or revoke licenses for non-compliance. Additionally, the bill amends existing laws to require health insurance plans to cover midwifery services in birth centers, seeks federal approval for Medicaid coverage of birth center services, and establishes rules based on national birth center standards published by the American Association of Birth Centers. The licensing provisions will take effect on January 1, 2027, or when the Department of Health adopts specific rules, with the goal of creating a structured, safe environment for low-risk childbirth outside traditional hospital settings.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/S.18