Should the State Pay Hospitals That Won't Induce Labor?
More than four years ago, the Seton family of hospitals stopped inducing labor in women who wanted to have their babies before full term, a move its doctors say prevents expensive complications that can accompany early births. Trouble is, that decision also cost Seton millions of dollars — those women now have babies elsewhere — and so it wants the Legislature to stanch the balance-sheet bleeding by approving extra public financing for any hospital with such a policy.
The issue raises sensitive questions about government management of both patient choice and the medical marketplace. While Seton asserts its competitors put mothers and ...
Comments (8)
Fred L. McGhee via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Government should have no place in the delivery room? I'm sure Texas midwives will be happy to hear that principle actually applied. Seton isn't doing anything that midwives haven't known for years. That they made the medically correct but financially harmful decision to stop inducing speaks well for their leadership.
(although they still could have done a better job with my back surgery ten years ago...)
TexansCareforChildren
It is not just Seton affected by this debate. So are the babies themselves, and all of us affected by this major cost driver in our health care. Advocates for children's health see early inductions as a vital issue facing the 82nd Legislature, and our Texas Infant Health Alliance is recommending that all hospitals be required to report early induction rates to the state--a policy shown in other states to reduce the practice.
As the article itself states, "Most in the medical community agree that inducing labor prior to 39 weeks can be dangerous." The fact that many hospitals allow the practice does not diminish those dangers. Many hospitals once allowed smoking in waiting areas, and later learned the error of their ways.
Jesse Mask via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Government has no business in the peoples medical concerns period, thats why my G P left Canada
Jennifer Cochran via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Great article
Glenda Parks via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Too bad this hands off approach doesn't apply to other reproductive health concerns.
Paul Burgess
To those who say that government should have no place in the delivery room, I say: "Wake up" Doctors and hospitals are businesses, not some high and morally righteous individuals that can do no wrong or have ulterior motives. The government is the only thing people have on their side, and mostly our Texas government are paid corporate shills. Would you rather have a faceless corporate nobody tell you how to conduct your affairs? This is what yo get when you say that government has no place in our lives.
Scott Kilpatrick via Texas Tribune on Facebook
This seems to be proof that with reproductive issues people care more about imposing their morals on others than about cutting costs.
louisjl
The Seton group is to be commended by choosing to do the right thing in not allowing an elective revenue-enhancing practice that could potentially cause harm to babies and mothers. I would challenge them and the physicians involved to take this one step further and ensure that every mother in their care receive appropriate prenatal and childbirth education. It has been shown in other areas of health care that preventative education and care improves outcomes and we all know that better outcomes ultimately improve the bottom line. Seems like a no-brainer to me.