“We will focus on creative solutions to ensure our community has access to equitable high-quality healthcare. However, we must acknowledge the devastating effect that this funding freeze has on not only our birth center and community but on other clinics, communities, and individuals nationwide.”
- Emily McGahey, DM, MSN, CNM, FACNM, Clinical Director
Dear TMC clients and community,
Last week, Title X funding was frozen for The Midwife Center and many other healthcare providers in the region. We wanted to share the impact that this freeze has had on our community. The Midwife Center depended on Title X to serve clients regardless of income or insurance coverage and the freeze has disrupted some of our services. We are working hard to navigate this situation so that you can continue to count on us for exceptional, compassionate prenatal, birthing, postpartum, and primary gynecological care.
What is Title X?
Title X is a federal program (started in 1970) to provide affordable family planning and preventative healthcare for low-income people. Since 2000, it has funded The Midwife Center’s sliding scale primary gynecological care for clients who are uninsured or under-insured. In 2024, Title X subsidized 350 visits for cancer screenings, STI testing and treatment, contraception, pap smears, annual wellness visits, and other care. Title X’s 340b pricing program also allowed us to purchase essential healthcare supplies at a discount.
What is the impact on our community?
The abrupt freeze on Title X funding is already harming communities in Southwestern Pennsylvania who depend on low-cost care. It is harming small clinics, like The Midwife Center, who operate on narrow margins and depend on Title X to provide the best care to everyone in our community. The U.S. faces a maternal and infant health crisis that disproportionately impacts Black and low-income people. Health outcomes in Allegheny County also reflect some of the deepest racial disparities for Black women, people, and families.
As the region’s only licensed, freestanding birth center, The Midwife Center recognizes the importance of increasing access to our services that result in better health outcomes, including lower c-section, premature birth, and low birthweight rates. Affordable and accessible preventative healthcare is vital to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity and improve other health outcomes, especially for BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, low-income, and other marginalized communities.
What does this mean for our clients?
Unfortunately, we are currently not able to provide the same level of discounts for gynecological care that was supported through Title X. If you have any questions regarding cost of services, please contact us at 412-321-6880. We are here for you to discuss options including other resources for low-cost and no-cost care. We will share more updates as they are available.
The Midwife Center is committed to providing personalized, high-quality care to women, individuals, birthing people, and families in southwestern Pennsylvania. Our team is working hard to assess the current situation, fundraise, and determine the best way forward so that we can continue to provide the care our community needs, including sliding scale discounts for our services. But we can’t do this to the same extent that we have for many years without additional funding.
Our community has already stepped up in a huge way to raise over 40% of the funding we need. Now, we're turning to you for support.
Here are two ways you can help right now:
1) Call your representative and senators TODAY to advocate for essential reproductive health services by immediately restoring Title X funding. Everyone should have access to high-quality, evidence-based healthcare. Find your legislators here.
2) Donate to make an immediate impact on our clients.
Thank you for your support, especially during this challenging time!
With gratitude,
The Midwife Center
