Thank you for your support: I'm excited to announce a wonderful update about birth center legislation in Connecticut! Here's another opportunity for you to support improved maternal health policies for the state. 
 
SB 986: An Act Protecting Maternal Health has been developed by the Governor's office and will have its first hearing Monday 3/13.
 

Overall, this is a really robust and progressive bill that would substantially shift the landscape in CT, and it is exciting to see such a priority placed on maternal and infant health and community birth by the Governor. 
This bill includes 5 provisions:
* licensure of freestanding birth centers
* certification of doulas for the purposes of payment
* universal newborn nurse home visiting
* establishment of a working group to study and make recommendations related to licensure or certification of certified professional midwives, certified midwives, and traditional midwives 
* establishment of an infant mortality review program

The full bill can be viewed here. A fact sheet prepared by the Governor's office is also available here. 
 
STEPS YOU CAN TAKE:
Submit written testimony by MONDAY 3/13 (it's so easy!)

Send an email to legislators on the Public Health Committee (here's a list of emails & email copy you can paste right into your email!)

Reach out to your state legislator to say you support the bill, especially if they are on the Public Health Committee

Here is a fact sheet with talking points about the need for birth center licensure, if anyone wants to incorporate these into their testimony. 
 
Thanks and be well!

Amy Romano, MBA, MSN, CNM, FACNM

Founder and CEO
Primary Maternity Care
(m) 203-893-8112