Comments on: Midwifery Care Is Good For Health Insurance Carriers http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/2008/04/25/midwifery-care-good-health-insurance/ Research and discussion of the Colorado health insurance industry and the healthcare crisis in America. Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:46:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Debbie http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/2008/04/25/midwifery-care-good-health-insurance/comment-page-1/#comment-10253 Debbie Sat, 26 Apr 2008 14:16:48 +0000 http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/?p=381#comment-10253 I agree there is no reason to go to the hospital if you have had a healthy pregnancy. My home births were wonderful and like yours not covered by our health insurance. We had 0 complications on 4 home births and saved the insurance company many thousands of dollars. The only reason that I can think of why insurance companies are so slow to cover licensed midwives in most states is that they are primarily run by the medical community. Most doctors and nurses see very few truly natural births and have a lot of fear about what can go wrong in the home setting or in birth in general. I'm not sure how we change that perception, but I think that is the key to better insurance coverage and better birth options for women throughout the country. Have a great birth! Debbie Pease Fighting for Midwives in South Dakota! I agree there is no reason to go to the hospital if you have had a healthy pregnancy. My home births were wonderful and like yours not covered by our health insurance. We had 0 complications on 4 home births and saved the insurance company many thousands of dollars.

The only reason that I can think of why insurance companies are so slow to cover licensed midwives in most states is that they are primarily run by the medical community. Most doctors and nurses see very few truly natural births and have a lot of fear about what can go wrong in the home setting or in birth in general. I’m not sure how we change that perception, but I think that is the key to better insurance coverage and better birth options for women throughout the country.

Have a great birth!

Debbie Pease
Fighting for Midwives in South Dakota!

]]> By: Louise http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/2008/04/25/midwifery-care-good-health-insurance/comment-page-1/#comment-10251 Louise Sat, 26 Apr 2008 02:03:24 +0000 http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/?p=381#comment-10251 Russ, Thanks for the kind words. I wish you all the best with getting midwifery-friendly legislation in NC. Direct-entry midwifery has been legal in Colorado since the early 90s, and I'm grateful that I live in a time and place where we have access to so many great midwives who can practice and advertise out in the open. It amazes me that 15 states still consider home birth midwives to be an illegal practice. Good luck to you!! Russ,
Thanks for the kind words. I wish you all the best with getting midwifery-friendly legislation in NC. Direct-entry midwifery has been legal in Colorado since the early 90s, and I’m grateful that I live in a time and place where we have access to so many great midwives who can practice and advertise out in the open. It amazes me that 15 states still consider home birth midwives to be an illegal practice. Good luck to you!!

]]> By: Midhusband http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/2008/04/25/midwifery-care-good-health-insurance/comment-page-1/#comment-10250 Midhusband Sat, 26 Apr 2008 00:24:34 +0000 http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/?p=381#comment-10250 Congratulations Louise!! I am often dumbfounded that the insurance carriers are not front and center in the fight to advance midwifery care in the US in light of the economics. I come from a different perspective…the same midwives that are licensed in Colorado are judged illegal in my state. If I were and executive with an insurance carrier, I would be quite loud in my advocacy for midwives and out-of-hospital birth (along with the American Public Health Association). Long term, I would expect to save a bunch of money should significant numbers of women were to choose planned home birth and midwifery care. While reimbursement is a problem here, I would trade regulatory environments with Colorado in a heartbeat. Best wishes to you and your family! Russ Fawcett Legislative Chair, North Carolina Friends of Midwives Congratulations Louise!!

I am often dumbfounded that the insurance carriers are not front and center in the fight to advance midwifery care in the US in light of the economics.

I come from a different perspective…the same midwives that are licensed in Colorado are judged illegal in my state.

If I were and executive with an insurance carrier, I would be quite loud in my advocacy for midwives and out-of-hospital birth (along with the American Public Health Association). Long term, I would expect to save a bunch of money should significant numbers of women were to choose planned home birth and midwifery care.

While reimbursement is a problem here, I would trade regulatory environments with Colorado in a heartbeat.

Best wishes to you and your family!

Russ Fawcett
Legislative Chair, North Carolina Friends of Midwives

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