Midwives/Birth Centers in Houston who take medicaid?

[asherraifsmom]

My sister in law just found out she's pregnant with her second. She is going to be on the medicaid that's for pregnant moms and newborns (forget what it's called in Texas). Finances for my brother and his wife are really tight right now (especially since this pregnancy was not planned), so they need a midwife who takes medicaid; they have no money to pay out of pocket.

She got the typical hospital ride with her last, (pitocin, epi, more pitocin, more epi, baby in distress, etc) so now she is wanting to go with a midwife and free standing birth center (or she might be open to homebirth, not sure).

Any recommendations? They live in Katy.

[asherraifsmom]

update: she said she found out that North Houston Birth Center takes medicaid (or says it does on the website). The birth center is inside a medical building (not a hospital; like a building that has doctor's offices and such in it) which just sort of struck me as odd but the photos show several birthing rooms with jacuzzi tubs, a afamily room, etc. so basically on the insdie like any other birth center. but there's no info on the website about her philsophy of birth, how interventive they are in the birth process, etc. I'm assuming since it's a CNM who takes medicaid that she does not/cannot take VBAC's, twins, postdates, or breeches.

Has anyone had any experiences with this birth center? so far it is the only one i've found that takes medicaid. It's 45 minutes away from my SIL but so far it's all we can find.

[shannon84]

Feel free to PM me off list for more info...  I doula'd at North Houston Birth Center and do not reccommend it for mom's who truly want a natural birth with no interventions.  Lots of typical medical things are done routinely there that may not bother some, but are issues for mom's who have expectations as well as the approach of the midwife on staff.  rite of Passage birth center in Pearland takes Medicaid.  They have 3 midwives on staff.  I delivered my boys there as well as apprentice there now.  I highly reccommend them!

[vanessab23]

there is a new BC that just opened up in Katy-- they may take medicaid and would certainly be closer!

http://www.katybirthcenter.com/

[asherraifsmom]

Yeah, she called the Katy Birth Center. It's like, across the street from their house, but they don't take medicaid :-/ I will tell her about the north houston birth center and the interventions, thanks. I think she was probably going to check out pearland. I would guess it might be a tad closer? Maybe?

[Susan Jenkins]

Federal law now requires all state Medicaid agencies to pay for the services of freestanding birth centers AND for the midwives who provide services in birth centers.  So, in Texas, that means that Medicaid should pay for all birth centers.  At the present time,  however, Texas Medicaid is only paying for birth centers owned or staffed by CNMs, not Licensed Midwives.  Texas Medicaid officials told me (I work for the American Association of Birth Centers and have been working on getting this implemented in all states) that they would change their rules to add Licensed Midwives and Birth Centers owned by Licensed Midwives (as well as home  births with Licensed Midwives), but they still haven't done anything.  They told me in December that they would start working on changing the rules to add LMs and LM Birth centers in February, but I called the other day and they seem to be stalling.  Email or call Billy Millwee, the Director of Texas Medicaid, and Michelle Harper, who is working on the rule change, and tell them that moms who have Medicaid or CHIP want access to licensed midwives, to ALL birth centers regardless of the type of midwife, and to home birth services also.  Call your state representative and state senator too and let them know that you want Texas medicaid to add LMs and LM-owned birth centers to Medicaid.  Tell them it will save the State of Texas a lot of money, because birth centers and midwives are so much more cost-effective than hospitals and MDs.

[kateplus3]

Rite of Passage in pearland takes medicaid.  I highly recommend them. I delivered my son there and there were no interventions and it was fabulous. 

[Linda Morris]

Susan I am trying to find a place of my daughter who just found she is expecting!  I had her at home in another state with midwives.  She doesnt want to have her first at home, but wants the options available that midwive have available without all the drugs and medical intervention.  I've contacted the Katy Birth Center and from info today they submit the lab tests to medicaid, but not the genenal cost for their reduced rate for those on medicaid from $5000 to $3600...which if you on medicaid you cant afford that either.  Help!  We live in Old Katy, and would love to have something close, I would have thought things would have came alot further than what I am reading.  I also those that hospitals like maybe Katy Hermann Memorial would have a birthing center, midwives and such, do you know anything?

[Linda Morris]

Kate do you live in Katy?

[Linda Morris]

Kate do you live in Katy?

[Nannysbaby]

My daughter gave birth at North Houston Birth Center, this after having had a home birth. However, things were tight with the third pregnancy and medicaid pays for this place. I think it is a very good option for ones wanting a midwife that just can't swing it any other way. Kathy is great. Yes, she can lean to the medical side, but I've seen HB midwives do the same, and worse IMO. My daughter had a beautiful, non medical birth just as if she had been at home. I actually think it's great that this option even exists for moms on Medicaid. If you live on the north side of town it's a good option. JMHO