looking for birth center info

[mama joy]

A freestanding birth center is opening up in my town in January (the first in Wisconsin!). At this point the HMO's are not covering births that take place in the birth center.
I plan to call and write to my HMO about coverage and want to have my facts straight.
Does anyone have links or info on the cost savings and other benefits of birth centers? I would appreciate any help I can get.

[clevah girl]

The American College of Nurse Midwives has some sample letters you can use to petition your insurance company. Good luck!

http://www.midwife.org/focus/sampleletters.cfm

[mama joy]

clevah girl,
Thankyou so much. I checked out the sample letters and they are the perfect start. I don't feel quite so overwhelmed now.

[zombiemommie]

I don't have any figures/facts but I can tell you that my DH insurance company, which really sucks, actually will cover 100% of birth center birth. They only cover 80% of usual inpatient charges for hospital birth.

Just FYI