Summary of Original Version

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 216B to define "freestanding birthing center"; require the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to promulgate updated administrative regulations to establish licensure standards for freestanding birthing centers, including requiring accreditation by the Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers, compliance with the American Association of Birth Centers (AABC) Standards for Birth Centers, and consistent plans for transfer and safe transport to a hospital as needed; exempt a center from certificate-of-need requirements for establishing and licensing a freestanding birthing center; limit liability of center; amend KRS 216B.020, 196.173, 211.647, 211.660, 213.046, 216.2920, and 216.2970 to conform; provide that the Act may be cited as the Mary Carol Akers Birth Centers Act.

Summary of Amendment: Senate Committee Substitute 1

Summary Retain original provisions; add requirement for medical malpractice insurance for freestanding birthing centers; amend KRS 216B.015 to include freestanding birthing centers in the definition of "health facility"; make conforming amendments.

Summary of Amendment: Senate Floor Amendment 1 -- S. Funke Frommeyer

Summary Retain original provisions, except to limit the exclusion from certificate of need for freestanding birthing centers to no more than four beds.

Summary of Amendment: Senate Floor Amendment 2 -- S. Meredith

Summary Retain original provisions of the bill except to require a birthing center to be located within five miles of a hospital offering obstetric services.

Summary of Amendment: Senate Floor Amendment 3 -- S. Meredith

Summary Retain original provisions of the bill except to require a birthing center to have written agreements with other medical providers.

Summary of Amendment: Senate Floor Amendment 4 -- S. Meredith

Summary Retain original provisions of the bill except to require a birthing center to have written agreements with a licensed obstetrician.

Summary of Amendment: Senate Floor Amendment 5 -- S. Meredith

Summary Retain original provisions of the bill except to require a birthing center and any asoociated health care provider to have medical liability insurance.

Summary of Amendment: Senate Floor Amendment 6 -- S. Meredith

Summary Retain original provisions of the bill except to remove language relating to at least 40 births per year for providing auditory screenings for infants.

Summary of Amendment: Senate Floor Amendment 7 -- S. Meredith

Summary Retain original provisions of the bill except to add reporting requirements to be met by birthing centers.

Summary of Amendment: Senate Floor Amendment 8 -- S. Meredith

Summary Retain original provisions of the bill except to add an amendment to KRS 216B.015 to include freestanding birthing centers in the definition of "health facility."

Summary of Amendment: Senate Floor Amendment 9 -- S. Meredith

Summary Retain original provisions of the bill except to require a birthing center to be located within five miles of a hospital offering obstetric services; require a birthing center to have written agreements with other medical providers; require a birthing center to have written agreements with a licensed obstetrician; require a birthing center and any asoociated health care provider to have medical liability insurance; remove language relating to at least 40 births per year for providing auditory screenings for infants; add reporting requirements to be met by birthing centers; amend KRS 216B.015 include freestanding birthing centers in the definition of "health facility."

Summary of Amendment: Senate Floor Amendment 10 -- S. Meredith

Summary Retain original provisions of the bill except to require a birthing center to be located more than a 60 minute ambulance drive from a Kentucky hospital offering obstetric services.

Summary of Amendment: Senate Floor Amendment 11 -- S. Meredith

Summary Retain original provisions of the bill except to require to require a birthing center to be located more than a 60 minute ambulance drive from a Kentucky hospital offering obstetric; require a birthing center to have written agreements with other medical providers; require a birthing center to have written agreements with a licensed obstetrician; require a birthing center and any asoociated health care provider to have medical liability insurance; remove language relating to at least 40 births per year for providing auditory screenings for infants; add reporting requirements to be met by birthing centers; amend KRS 216B.015 include freestanding birthing centers in the definition of "health facility."

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 216B.020, 196.173, 211.647, 211.660, 213.046, 216.2920, 216.2970
Senate Committee Substitute 1: 216B.020, 196.173, 211.647, 211.660, 213.046, 216.2920, 216.2970, 214.155, 214.565, 214.567, 214.569, 216B.015