The Birth Center Transfer Agreement in Ohio
Under current regulations, all freestanding birth centers in Ohio are required to maintain a written transfer agreement with a local hospital—an administrative hurdle currently preventing freestanding birth centers in the state from opening.
A question many have is: but what about when transfer is a necessity? Wouldn’t a hospital transfer agreement create a smoother transition?
Actually, the requirement is a redundancy that simply creates a barrier to a family’s choice of provider. Let’s take a closer look.
The Redundancy of the Transfer Agreement Requirement
As requirements currently stand, a birth center must hold a written transfer agreement with a local hospital in order to open its doors. However, many hospitals, particularly those with obstetric departments, are unwilling to enter into these agreements—often because birth centers are viewed as competition. This creates an artificial restriction on the establishment of new birth centers and limits choices for families seeking out-of-hospital birth options.
In reality, birth centers already have well-established protocols for emergency transfers. Midwives are highly trained in risk assessment and are skilled at identifying when a laboring person or newborn may require a higher level of care. Transfers, when necessary, are carefully planned and executed for a seamless transition to hospital care.
The idea that a birth center needs an agreement with a hospital to safely transfer a client ignores the fact that hospitals are already legally required to accept and treat any patient in an emergency. This is a redundancy that has been abused by the medical system in many scenarios.
House Bill 537
House Bill 537 acknowledges the importance of having a structured transfer process without imposing unnecessary administrative red tape. Under the proposed framework, birth centers will be required to have a written transfer plan with clients. This plan will outline the process for hospital transfers, ensuring that every family understands what will happen in the rare case that higher-level medical care is needed.
Additionally, many birth centers already work with clients to pre-register with a local hospital. This proactive approach ensures that, in the event of a transfer, hospital staff have all necessary medical records on file, allowing for a smoother transition and minimizing delays in care.
This bill represents a win-win for families, midwives, and the broader healthcare system. Families will have increased access to birth center care, hospitals will still receive necessary transfers as needed, and birth centers can focus on providing high-quality, individualized maternity care without unnecessary regulatory barriers.
