Mandated Reporting of Maternity Care Utilization Data

Nearly one-third (32%) of all births in the United States are cesarean deliveries. Though often lifesaving, cesarean delivery involves major abdominal surgery that many pregnant women wish to avoid absent clear clinical indication. Cesarean delivery poses physical health and safety risks for women and infants; in addition, hospital charges for a cesarean delivery are almost double those for a vaginal delivery. At present time, hospitals are not required to report cesarean utilization rates to the public, and only 11 states make hospital-level cesarean rates available to the public through websites. There is also a wide variety in the data being reported, with some states reporting actual figures while others report risk-adjusted numbers. Only New York and Massachusetts have laws in place mandating the reporting of cesarean sections. Pregnant women in the remaining states are without access to data on an important quality measure in maternity care, and therefore lack an important tool to make a fully informed decision about their health care and place of birth. The speaker will discuss how mandated reporting of maternity care utilization rates, namely cesarean section delivery, primary cesarean delivery, and vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) would benefit women and their care providers as they strive to create healthy minds and bodies throughout the childbearing cycle.