Today, KHA President Nancy Galvagni testified alongside Dr. Dan Goulson, chair of KHA’s Physician Leadership Forum and the chief medical officer at CHI Saint Joseph Health and St. Elizabeth Healthcare obstetrician Dr. Allana Oak at the Interim Joint Committee on Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations meeting addressing certificate of need (CON) requirements for freestanding birthing centers.

Galvagni, Goulson, and Oak all stressed the health and safety of mothers and their babies and noted hospitals are best equipped to handle the unpredictability of childbirth. The team reiterated KHA’s stance that freestanding birthing centers should not be removed from CON and the facilities should have transfer agreements with hospitals and operate under the direction of a licensed OBGYN.

The testimony, in its entirety, is available at https://ket.org/legislature/archives/2023/interim/interim-joint-committee-on-licensing-and-occupations-81g4gs.