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Joel's blog

AABC Birth Center Videos

The American Association of Birth Centers (AABC) has a very informative and beautiful collection of videos on their YouTube channel:

Enjoy and Share!

AABC Conference a Real Treat to Host

It was a lot of work, but it was actually a lot of fun! MMC hosted the annual "Birth Institute" for AABC here in Denver. Member centers stayed at the Grand Hyatt, had fun in downtown Denver, and visited MMC twice. On Wednesday, MMC hosted attendees to an AABC "How to Start a Birth Center" workshop. On Saturday, we entertained and showed off the center to Birth Institute attendees. Both groups learned how MMC operates clinically and administratively. And we got the chance to ask detailed questions of birth centers from around the nation.
 

The First Rose

...and pretty coneflowers all in a row.

Pink blossoms flourish open in the late summer.  We wouldn't think of trying to force them before they were ready - the petals would be damaged, and they would wilt early.

We have our first rose blossom in the Midwife's Garden!

Since this is just year 2 for our garden, this is quite an achievement on our garden's part.  We would like to think that the excitement in the air and all the love for the new babies is responsible for this pretty flower.  That and the rain.

 

FUNdraising dinner for AABC

Have we mentioned that the AABC (American Association of Birth Centers) conference is coming to Denver this Labor Day weekend?  It is!  We are so pleased to have the conference so close to home.

Act now for the Maternal Health Accountability Act of 2011

Maternal Health Accountability Act of 2011, as a condition of receiving grants, will require States to do the following: 1. Require health professional and facilities to report all pregnancy-related deaths. 2. Investigate and develop case findings and summaries for maternal deaths. 3. Establish review committees with OB-GYNs, midwives, nurses, social workers, health care facility representatives, members of affected communities, and other relevant stakeholders to recommend prevention strategies. 4. Disseminate findings and recommendations.

Colorado is out-of-compliance with Medicaid management

At this link, the Colorado Center on Law and Policy summarizes a Federal report that finds Colorado out of compliance with State programs like Medicaid and CHP+ in many key areas:

  • timeliness of eligibility determinations 
  • lack of sufficient State control over Medicaid
  • timeliness of citizenship determination
  • sufficient client noticing
  • retaining eligibility information

I share this because if affirms the difficulties MMC had in serving Medicaid patients.

Medicaid Update and Letter from Tracy

It’s been hard to articulate the reasons for our withdrawal from Medicaid. As the obstacles to our effective participation with Medicaid have dragged on, Joel and I felt it was time to share the reasons as we understand them.

Below is the text of a letter we drafted to share with anyone who is affected or disappointed or curious about our decision. 

****

To Patients Affected by Changes to Medicaid Policy

To those affected,

The Midwife's Garden is in its second trimester

The bees, worms, sunshine, and strong May showers have been working their plant magic in the Midwife's Garden.

The elderberry bush is sassy and full, the strawberry plants have been in sweet blossom for about six weeks, and the red raspberry plants are precocious and prolific:

We've been admiring the cheery blooms in our hanging baskets as well. 

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