Bill > LB1234

This bill establishes the Freestanding Birth Center Act, which will allow for the licensing and regulation of birth centers in Nebraska, defining them as facilities outside of a hospital setting that provide care for low-risk pregnancies, labor, birth, and immediate postpartum and newborn care, and are overseen by a licensed provider, such as a certified nurse midwife, who serves as the clinical director. These centers must be licensed by the state's Department of Health and Human Services (Licensing Agency), meet standards set by organizations like the Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers (CABC), and cannot use general or regional anesthesia, induce labor with drugs, or perform surgical procedures beyond episiotomy and repair, nor can they use vacuum extractors, forceps, or continuous electronic fetal monitoring. The bill also outlines procedures for licensure, including fees, renewals, and grounds for suspension or revocation, and ensures patients have specific rights, such as informed consent and the right to refuse treatment, while requiring birth centers to maintain health records and file birth certificates. Furthermore, this act mandates that individual and group accident or health insurance policies that cover newborn care or maternity benefits must also provide coverage for services rendered by a licensed provider or birth center under this new act.

Health and Social Services

https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=63777