Oregon Health Authority Challenges Decision to Close Mt Hood Birth Center

The Oregon Health Authority is questioning Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center’s decision to quit offering maternity services.  

The Health Authority released a statement.  It says OHA is,  “Highly concerned about reports that maternity patients at Legacy Mount Hood are being redirected to other Legacy hospitals, such as Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel. OHA has not granted Legacy’s waiver and is in the process of reviewing Legacy’s responses to the many questions OHA posed to Legacy about its waiver request. OHA received Legacy’s responses late on Friday, March 17.  OHA has been very clear with Legacy that it cannot cease providing required maternity services at its Family Birth Center without receiving OHA approval of a waiver.  OHA will be investigating reports that Legacy has ceased providing maternity services.”

 The birth center closed its doors Sunday.  

Legacy said it made the decision,  due to a low number of births, and high costs. 

Alejandrina Felipe is a registered nurse for labor and delivery, at Legacy Mount Hood.  She’s concerned vulnerable pregnant women will have fewer choices. “They’re worried for high blood pressure, they don’t feel the baby move.”  She says in emergencies like that, doctors usually instruct patients to go to the nearest emergency center, which in her area is Legacy Mount Hood.