Kentucky Birth Coalition

Your support helps to expand access to maternity care options in Kentucky.

The Kentucky Birth Coalition is a consumer-led, grassroots organization working to expand birth options in the Bluegrass.

2025 has been monumental! After five years of attempts, we made history with the passage of legislation making it easier to open freestanding birth centers in Kentucky. Now, the state is updating the regulations for birth centers. As soon as those are complete, prospective birth center owners can begin the process of opening centers in the Commonwealth.

Kentucky Birth Coalition continues to advocate for legislation that would require Kentucky Medicaid coverage for LCPM services. While this legislation has been introduced before, KBC ramped up the efforts on this topic. We will continue to work on Medicaid coverage so that LCPM care is accessible to all Kentuckians.

All of this comes after a major accomplishment in 2019 with the enactment of a new law to license Certified Professional Midwives in the state. Since then, Kentucky has issued nearly 40 licenses to Certified Professional Midwives, and we have an unprecedented number of students seeking to become licensed midwives. 

In addition, KBC volunteers and leaders are or have been busy with:

• Hosting our annual lobby day at the Capitol
• Monitoring the regulation process for freestanding birth centers.
• Preparing for 2026 legislation to advance maternal health in Kentucky, including legislator communication, promotion of the legislation, and coalition building with other supporting organizations
• Medicaid reimbursement for LCPMs
• Providing feedback to the Board of Nursing regarding LCPM issues
• Creating a Find a Midwife mapping tool on our website
• Fielding phone calls and e-mails from families searching for a midwife
• Fielding phone calls and e-mails from midwives interested in becoming licensed in Kentucky
• Serving as an information clearinghouse for LCPMs
• Providing information to our supporters on where their state legislators stand on issues important to birthing families

Your support makes it possible for us to continue to advocate for more birthing options for Kentuckians.

For the purposes of participating in this event, Kentucky Birth Coalition is being fiscally sponsored by Hope's Embrace and receives their tax-exempt status through this relationship. Donations to KBC during this event are processed through Hope's Embrace.

Who We Are

The Kentucky Birth Coalition is a grass-roots, consumer-based organization, working to expand birthing options in Kentucky by increasing access to midwives in all settings.