Section 7.12.401. Determination of a free-standing birth center; scope of services.

	(a)  Subject to (b) of this section, the department will consider an entity to be a free-standing birth center if the entity  
		(1) is a publicly or privately owned facility, place, or institution that is constructed, renovated, leased, rented, or otherwise established;  
		(2) is a place  
			(A) where midwifery services are provided;  
			(B) that is physically separate from acute care obstetrical services;  
			(C) that is administratively autonomous from a hospital or other health facility; and  
			(D) that has a separate and required staff, including administrative staff;  
		(3) is located within 20 miles by road from a hospital that provides the services required under 7 AAC 12.405(g); and  
		(4) provides planned, nonemergency midwifery services for low-risk maternal clients  
			(A) away from the client's residence; a birth center may not offer or provide labor or delivery services at a location other than its licensed premises;  
			(B) after a documented period of prenatal care for a normal, uncomplicated pregnancy that is determined to be low-risk through physical examinations, and through risk assessments conducted in accordance with the standards developed under 7 AAC 12.403(f); and  
			(C) who do not require hospitalization.  
	(b)  Notwithstanding (a)(2)(B), (C), and (D) of this section, a hospital or other health facility may own and operate a birth center if  
		(1) the birth center is physically separate from the hospital's obstetrical unit;  
		(2) each primary care provider in the birth center is a midwife;  
		(3) the birth center operates as an administratively autonomous department and is responsible for reporting directly to the governing body of the hospital or health facility on all matters concerning the birth center; and  
		(4) the birth center is licensed separately.  
	(c)  In addition to the provisions of 7 AAC 12.401 - 7 AAC 12.449, a free-standing birth center is subject to the applicable requirements of 7 AAC 12.600(a), (e), and (g).  

Authorities

47.32.010;47.32.030

Notes

Reference

7 AAC 12.401
7 AAC 12.446
7 AAC 12.449

Authority

AS 47.32.010 AS 47.32.030

History

Eff. 11/19/83, Register 88; am 9/30/2007, Register 183