Vermont Exempts Birthing Centers from Certificate of Need Process

Vermont has passed legislation exempting Birthing Centers from the state’s Certificate of Need process, reports the Burlington Free Press. The Certificate of Need process requires that health care entities gain state approval before constructing new facilities or increasing the number of beds in certain circumstances. The bill is intended to remove this barrier to the construction of new birthing centers, which tend to provide lower cost birth services for low-risk pregnancies compared to hospitals.