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CalMatters
California is losing places to give birth
By Lynn La,
9 hours ago
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The March closure of California’s first licensed and accredited birth center underscores not only the state’s “de facto ban” on licensing birth centers (as one lobbyist put it), but also the uphill battle expectant mothers in California face when seeking the health care they need.
In the past decade, nearly 50 maternity wards have closed across the state, with more than half shutting down in the last four years — creating “maternity care deserts.”
In lieu of hospitals, some patients pursue alternatives. But California midwives who could help close the care gap can barely keep their businesses afloat . And in the past four years, at least 19 birth centers have either reduced services or shut down — including Best Start Birth Center in San Diego, founded in 1989.
One factor is the set of financial and regulatory standards California centers must meet to get licensed, which are some of the toughest in the country.
Midwives and advocates argue that the licensing process often takes years, is pricey and at times doesn’t make sense for the scope of their practice. For example, some centers spend tens of thousands of dollars to retrofit buildings to accommodate high-risk patients who would need to be transferred to a hospital regardless.
Roberta Frank , Best Start founder: “The system is just a mess. It’s flawed. It’s set up to prevent providers that can provide really good care from even getting started.”
The president of the state chapter of the American Association of Birth Centers says that to prevent more birth centers from closing, the state needs to reform its licensing process. Exempting birth centers from certain health building codes, for instance, would require legislative intervention. Other advocates also want the California Department of Health Care Services to increase reimbursement rates for low-income patients on Medi-Cal.
In an unsigned statement to CalMatters, the health department said that licensing requires facilities to meet “minimum standards” for patient care. It added: “We cannot speculate or comment on any reason why providers chose to close these facilities, aren’t seeking licensure for new (birth centers), or what could be done to improve the process.”
That’s because when the administration withdrew its proposal, it also eliminated funding in the budget bill to enforce the law. The law bans new oil drilling within 3,200 feet of schools and homes, and requires safety measures at existing wells.
Environmental groups argue the governor’s actions are contradictory: While California won’t delay the setback law outright, gutting the funding to implement the law would result in more delays.
School security: The Senate is expected to consider a bill this week that would undo state rules that require public school teachers to report to police if a student assaults them , writes CalMatters politics intern Jenna Peterson . Republican senators remain strongly opposed to the bill , calling it a “ lose-lose ” for students, teachers, parents and police. Backers say teachers may have reasons to keep police scrutiny out of kids’ lives. Read more on the bill in Jenna’s story.
Non-disclosure agreements: Another Republican effort to prohibit lobbyists, legislators and other public officials from using non-disclosure agreements when creating legislation died last week, reports KCRA . Assemblymember Joe Patterson of Rocklin attempted to rewrite a previous bill of his to include banning the practice, but the effort was shot down by Senate Democratic leaders for being too similar to a measure that failed in April .
Physician mental health: After passing the Senate floor last week, a bill to prohibit the Medical Board of California from requiring applicants to disclose information about their mental health as part of the board’s physician licensing process heads to the governor’s desk. According to the California Medical Association, including such mandates could further stigmatize mental health conditions. The board last week amended its application to “ make clear to physicians that seeking care is encouraged .”
A patrol vehicle pulls into the California Highway Patrol office in Oakland on Aug. 13, 2024. Photo by Florence Middleton, CalMatters
In addition to signing into law an anti-crime bill package championed by Democratic legislative leaders, Gov. Newsom is sending a strong message to cities this election year to do more to rein in crime. That includes Oakland, where concerns over crime from residents and business owners have fueled recall campaigns of both Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price .
In July, Newsom weighed in on an Oakland policy that limits law enforcement’s ability to engage in vehicle pursuits with suspected criminals. He fired off a letter to Oakland officials urging them to reconsider its rules. The CHP, for example, grants officers wider discretion for car chases.
But James Burch, a spokesperson for the Anti Police-Terror Project, argues that the crime issues plaguing Oakland residents, such as gun violence and burglaries of small businesses, won’t be solved with CHP’s focus on traffic stops and recovering stolen vehicles.
Burch: “We don’t see CHP having the skills, the experience, the technical know-how to address these issues.”
A 2023 study by the think tank Police Executive Research Forum also found that more than 90% of police chases rarely lead to arrests for serious crimes , and about a fifth of serious injuries during chases are inflicted on innocent bystanders.
But Newsom has a different take. At a July press conference, he said CHP officers can help free up local police officers so they can focus on other crimes. And Oakland Police Chief Floyd Mitchell said traffic stops “create a high visibility presence” of police that can depress crime in an area for hours.
Participants in a youth focus group at TODEC Legal Center in Coachella receive t-shirts to promote voting on July 16, 2024. Photo by Zoë Meyers for CalMatters
With 41 million eligible Gen Z voters, the 2024 election could see unprecedented youth participation. As part of our partnership with PBS SoCal, CalMatters’ Jenna Peterson and producer Robert Meeks have a video segment on Jenna and Matthew Reagan’s story detailing how this new wave could alter California’s political landscape. Watch it here .
CalMatters events: The next is Sept. 12 on the battle over California’s groundwater. Register here to attend virtually. On Sept. 19, CalMatters economy reporter Levi Sumagaysay , who is covering the homeowners’ insurance crisis , will interview California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. Register here to attend in person at our Sacramento offices or virtually.
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