NEWS FROM THE MADISON BIRTH CENTER
November 9, 2004
New Parenting Store and Resource Center
Happy Bambino, a new store and resource center for Madison's pregnancy and early parenting community, is holding a grand opening celebration!
When: Saturday, November 13, 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Where: 2045 Atwood Avenue, Madison
The grand opening will feature events and activities including demo classes, raffles, free chair massages, and live music. The store features clothing, toys, baby slings, bath and body products, books and much more. All-natural fibers and eco-friendly products are emphasized. Arlinda Michael, who teaches and helps provide breastfeeding support for Madison Birth Center clients, will provide the same services at Happy Bambino. Please join us in welcoming this wonderful new resource for young families! For more information, check out their website - happybambino.com.
MBC Joins The Alliance Provider Network
We are pleased to announce that Madison Birth Center has become a participating provider to The Alliance. The Alliance operates like a health care network-offering access to health care providers and facilities at reduced rates. About 160 Wisconsin employers (with 100 or more employees) offer The Alliance as part of their self-funded health benefit plans, with nearly 100,000 employees and family members enrolled. More than 250 fully insured small employers also participate in programs designed for them. Madison Birth Center is the only birth center in The Alliance network.
Get Involved in Your Insurance Plan Design
Most experts agree that health care costs can be reduced by the engagement of informed and active consumers. Now is a good time to check with your employer to ensure that birth center facilities and midwifery care are covered by your insurance plan. We are very willing to provide your employer with more information about the cost savings and outstanding health outcomes resulting from birth center care!
Open Enrollment Decision-Making
This is the yearly enrollment period for many insurance plans, and Madison Birth Center has received many calls about which plans cover our care. Please feel free to check our website for a list of plans that have provided coverage to Madison Birth Center, or call us at
608/821-0123.
POS Plans Offer Greater Healthcare Choices
Although Dane County's HMOs do not provide any coverage for birth center care, both Unity and Physicians Plus offer "point of service" (POS) plans that permit insureds to choose out-of-network providers, such as Madison Birth Center. If your employer offers a "point-of-service" (POS) plan, we encourage you to consider selecting this "consumer choice" option during your open enrollment period.
Yahoo Discussion Group
The New Moms Support Group at Madison Birth Center has developed an on-line discussion group. The group offers frank discussion and support by and for other mothers. Women in the group have given birth in birth center, hospital and home settings and have created warm and loving relationships, both on-line and during group sessions. We invite new mothers to check out both the Thursday morning group (11:00-12:30) and the on-line discussion mbc-parents@yahoogroups.com.
