1) Ask to speak with the healthcare legislative aide or leave a message including your phone number for a call back.
2) I am a _____ (midwife, birth center supporter, staff, parent, physician, or other) in your state. (Briefly tell your story)
3) I am calling to request that Senator _________ include 3 asks in their appropriations requests:
-continue funding for certified professional midwifery education
-continue funding for nurse midwifery education and
-use existing HRSA funding to create a new set aside for birth center start-ups in underserved areas.
4) Perinatal outcomes are poor, and we can do better. Provider shortages are growing.
5) This funding will help solve problems by supporting more birth centers, educating more midwives, and providing access to services in perinatal care deserts.
6) Birth centers and midwives are proven solutions to the perinatal health crisis.
7) Will your boss consider including funding for midwifery education and birth centers in their appropriations requests?
8) Your office will get an email with a letter signed by over 40 Maternal health stakeholders. The letter contains the details of these requests.
9) Thank you for your time.

The American Association of Birth Centers (AABC), the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM), and the National Association of Certified Professional Midwives (NACPM) are partnering to request funding for midwifery education and birth center start-ups. Over 40 Maternal Health Stakeholders have signed a letter asking the Senate Appropriations Committee to fund these initiatives. These organizations are united in the pursuit of improved access to perinatal care because we know that maternal and infant health outcomes in the US are unacceptably poor. Sadly, the problem is only getting worse. The CDC recently released data showing that the rate of maternal deaths has continued to climb from 754 in 2019, to 861 in 2020, and now to a staggering 1,205 in 2021. That puts our rate of maternal death at 32.9 per 100,000 live births. These devastating figures are even more egregious when we examine the data on racial health disparities. Black patients are 2.6 times more likely to die during or just after pregnancy than white patients.

The problem of maternal and infant mortality is urgent and complex. One clear and actionable strategy is expansion of the perinatal labor force and the establishment of new perinatal healthcare facilities; especially in areas deemed "Maternity Care Deserts" by March of Dimes. Last year, AABC, ACNM and NACPM worked with legislators to secure funding for midwifery education. This year we have three asks:
1) Continue education funding for Certified Professional Midwifes and Certified Midwives
2) Continue education funding for Certified Nurse Midwives
3) Create a new set aside for grants to birth center start-ups.
The new set aside would come from existing HRSA funds--these appropriations requests do not raise the federal budget.

Midwifery and birth center care are proven solutions. Multiple studies have shown the benefit of the midwifery model of care. The Strong Start Program demonstrated that birth center care improved outcomes by reducing the incidence of preterm birth, low birth weight and cesarean section while saving about $2000 per family, per birth. We're asking you to join us in supporting childbearing families by adding these asks to your 2024 appropriations requests.

The Maternal Health Sign On Letter, backed by many of the nation's leading perinatal health stakeholders, details the specifics of these asks. Read the letter, linked below, to learn more about this solution-oriented funding.

Maternal Health Sign On Letter:

https://assets.noviams.com/novi-file-uploads/aabc/Advocacy_/2023_Midwifery_and_Birth_Center_Appropriations_Stakeholder_Support_Letter_FINAL_.pdf


Thank you for your time and consideration!