Only 2 state-licensed birthing centers in Central Indiana close

Citing problems with insurance coverage and insurers reluctance to pay for birthing center births despite the savings of about 50% from the cost of a hospital birth these 2 centers were forced to close. The midwife running the 2 centers, Barbara Bechtel, also stated that the insurers demanded an obstetrician be her backup rather than the family medicine doctor she had been relying on. She could not find cooperation from the local obstetric community and so this option for mothers is no longer available. There was no mention of problems with bad outcomes to justify the noncooperation. But is it hard to figure out why? See the full article at the link below. Dr. F



http://www.indystar.com/article/20110430/LOCAL1804/104300333/Only-2-state-licensed-birthing-centers-Central-Indiana-close?odyssey=nav%7Chead