Florida has become the first to permit doctors to administer cesarean sections outside of hospital settings, backing a private equity-owned physicians group's affirmation that this move will lessen expenses and allow a more soothing birthing environment.
OBGYN Cautions Against Conducting C-Sections in Doctor-Run Clinics
Nevertheless, the hospital industry and prominent obstetricians caution that performing C-sections in physician-operated clinics heightens risks for both mothers and infants during complications, despite recent shutdowns of maternity wards in certain Florida hospitals.
Cole Greves, head of the Florida chapter of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, highlighted that these newly built clinics cannot guarantee the same level of safety as hospitals.
Roughly one-third of births in the US are cesarean sections, executed by doctors when they identified it's safer than vaginal delivery for either the mother or baby.
Florida Senator Gayle Harrell, the sponsor of the birth center bill, equates this change to the rise of outpatient surgery centers in the late 1980s, emphasizing parallels.
Harrell highlighted that birth centers would comply with accurate standards related to outpatient surgery centers, desiring to address maternity care gaps across the state.
Seventeen hospitals in Florida have closed their maternity units since 2019, often due to inadequate insurance reimbursement and high malpractice costs, as reported by the Florida Hospital Association.
CEO Mary Mayhew warns against comparing birth centers to ambulatory surgery centers, citing the increased dangers related to C-sections like hemorrhaging.
The Florida Legislature has authorized legislation allowing the establishment of "advanced birth centers," where physicians can undertake vaginal or C-section deliveries for women classified as low-risk.
Women's Care Enterprises, a private equity-owned entity, advocated for this change. Critics argue that this setup is an inadequate replacement for high-quality obstetric care and may exacerbate outcomes.
Approximately one-third of births in the United States are C-sections, performed when physicians judge them to be safer than vaginal delivery.
C-Sections Performed Outside Hospitals Cost-Efficient Maternity Care
State Sen. Gayle Harrell, the bill's sponsor, likened it to the inception of outpatient surgery centers in the 1980s and asserted that birth centers would uphold rigorous standards for staffing and infection control.
Despite reservations from the Florida Hospital Association regarding the risks and implications for maternal and infant health, they refrained from opposing the bill due to the augmented Medicaid payments to hospitals for maternity care.
There are concerns about whether advanced birth centers can effectively address shortages in care, particularly in rural locales. The extent of insurance coverage for these centers remains uncertain.
Stephen Snow, a retired OB-GYN with Women's Care, disclosed intentions to establish an advanced birth center in Tampa or Orlando. He contended that these centers would be more cost-effective and pleasant for patients, although they also represent a business venture.
Kate Bauer, executive director of the American Association of Birth Centers, cautioned against potential confusion between these new centers and existing midwife-run birth centers. She characterized the new model as a risky deviation from standard care.
The sole analogous facility is a birth clinic in Wichita, Kansas, linked to a hospital, which benefits from shared staff and swift patient transfer in case of complications.
