Washington State Stacks Financial Incentives in Favor of Vaginal Birth

The state of Washington is taking an innovative step toward tackling rising cesarean section rates by eliminating the profit motive. Beginning this month, the state’s Medicaid reimbursement for uncomplicated cesarean sections dropped from approximately $3,600 to about $1,000—the same reimbursement provided for complicated vaginal birth.Because the cost of vaginal birth is lower than the cost of