Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to override a veto of a bill that establishes free-standing birthing centers in Kentucky.

Highlights:

• Specifies the title of this bill as the Mary Carol Akers Birth Centers Act and establishes free-standing birthing centers in Kentucky (Sec. 1).

• Amends previous law to create a new section of KRS Chapter 216B to define "freestanding birthing center" (Sec. 1).

• Defines "freestanding birthing center" means any health facility, place, or institution that is not a hospital, is not in a hospital or a private residence and is established to provide care for labor, delivery, the immediate postpartum period, and the newborn immediately following delivery (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to promulgate administrative regulations to establish licensure standards for freestanding birthing centers (Sec. 2-24).

• Establishes criteria for a medical director and requirements for obtaining written informed consent (Sec. 2-24).

• Requires a written patient transfer agreement with a hospital that provides obstetric service (Sec. 2-24).

• Requires a written patient transfer agreement with an emergency medical transportation service (Sec. 2-24).

• Exempts a center with no more than four beds from certificate-of-need requirements for establishing and licensing a freestanding birthing center (Sec. 2-24).

• Specifies that it is not state intent not to limit or expand the liability of a center or health care provider or facility (Sec. 2-24).

• Requires medical malpractice insurance for freestanding birthing centers (Sec. 2-24).

• Prohibits abortions in freestanding birthing centers (Sec. 2-24).

• Amends previous legislation to include birthing centers in the definition of "health facility” (Sec. 2-24).

• Requires the cabinet to promulgate updated administrative regulations by December 1, 2025 (Sec. 2-24).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill declare an emergency and shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor (Sec. 26).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to override a veto of a bill that establishes free-standing birthing centers in Kentucky.

Highlights:

• Specifies the title of this bill as the Mary Carol Akers Birth Centers Act and establishes free-standing birthing centers in Kentucky (Sec. 1).

• Amends previous law to create a new section of KRS Chapter 216B to define "freestanding birthing center" (Sec. 1).

• Defines "freestanding birthing center" means any health facility, place, or institution that is not a hospital, is not in a hospital or a private residence and is established to provide care for labor, delivery, the immediate postpartum period, and the newborn immediately following delivery (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to promulgate administrative regulations to establish licensure standards for freestanding birthing centers (Sec. 2-24).

• Establishes criteria for a medical director and requirements for obtaining written informed consent (Sec. 2-24).

• Requires a written patient transfer agreement with a hospital that provides obstetric service (Sec. 2-24).

• Requires a written patient transfer agreement with an emergency medical transportation service (Sec. 2-24).

• Exempts a center with no more than four beds from certificate-of-need requirements for establishing and licensing a freestanding birthing center (Sec. 2-24).

• Specifies that it is not state intent not to limit or expand the liability of a center or health care provider or facility (Sec. 2-24).

• Requires medical malpractice insurance for freestanding birthing centers (Sec. 2-24).

• Prohibits abortions in freestanding birthing centers (Sec. 2-24).

• Amends previous legislation to include birthing centers in the definition of "health facility” (Sec. 2-24).

• Requires the cabinet to promulgate updated administrative regulations by December 1, 2025 (Sec. 2-24).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill declare an emergency and shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor (Sec. 26).

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that establishes free-standing birthing centers in Kentucky.

Highlights:

• Specifies the title of this bill as the Mary Carol Akers Birth Centers Act and establishes free-standing birthing centers in Kentucky (Sec. 1).

• Amends previous law to create a new section of KRS Chapter 216B to define "freestanding birthing center" (Sec. 1).

• Defines "freestanding birthing center" means any health facility, place, or institution that is not a hospital, is not in a hospital or a private residence and is established to provide care for labor, delivery, the immediate postpartum period, and the newborn immediately following delivery (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to promulgate administrative regulations to establish licensure standards for freestanding birthing centers (Sec. 2-24).

• Establishes criteria for a medical director and requirements for obtaining written informed consent (Sec. 2-24).

• Requires a written patient transfer agreement with a hospital that provides obstetric service (Sec. 2-24).

• Requires a written patient transfer agreement with an emergency medical transportation service (Sec. 2-24).

• Exempts a center with no more than four beds from certificate-of-need requirements for establishing and licensing a freestanding birthing center (Sec. 2-24).

• Specifies that it is not state intent not to limit or expand the liability of a center or health care provider or facility (Sec. 2-24).

• Requires medical malpractice insurance for freestanding birthing centers (Sec. 2-24).

• Prohibits abortions in freestanding birthing centers (Sec. 2-24).

• Amends previous legislation to include birthing centers in the definition of "health facility” (Sec. 2-24).

• Requires the cabinet to promulgate updated administrative regulations by December 1, 2025 (Sec. 2-24).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill declare an emergency and shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor (Sec. 26).

Full Bill Text