AB 55 (Bonta, D-Oakland)

AB 55 would remove the requirement that alternative birth centers be located within 30 minutes of a hospital equipped for obstetrical and neonatal emergencies. Instead, alternative birth centers would be required to adopt a detailed hospital transfer policy, including procedures for record-sharing, communication with receiving providers, and patient notification. The bill would also update Medi-Cal requirements, eliminating the need for centers to be certified as comprehensive perinatal providers (but still requiring that centers provide specified pregnancy and postpartum services).