UPDATED 3/27/24

The biggest impact comes when legislators hear from people who live in the districts that the legislators’ represent. Here is what you can do to easily reach out to your state senator and state representative.

1. Call the Kentucky legislative message line on weekdays. The call should take 5 minutes or less.

  • Call 800-372-7181. The operator will ask for your name and if it is your first time calling, they will ask for your address. They will use your address to determine your senator and representative.
  • Ask to leave a message for your REPRESENTATIVE in support of SB89: “Vote YES on SB89 for Medicaid coverage of Licensed Certified Professional Midwives.”
  • Updated 3/27- Ask to leave another message for your SENATOR in support of HB199: “Vote YES on HB199 as passed by the House for freestanding birth centers.”

2. Email your state legislators.

Click here to determine your state senator and state representative, and enter your home address. Click on the map and you’ll see the name of your senator and representative.

Here is a list of all legislator email addresses.

Send an email to your SENATOR. Here is a sample (updated 3/27).

SUBJECT: Constituent email- HB199 birthing centers

Dear Senator (insert Senator’s last name),

I am your constituent in (insert your town name). I am writing to ask for your support on HB199 relating to freestanding birthing centers, sponsored by Rep. Jason Nemes. HB199 passed the House on March 26 with a floor amendment to address many concerns raised by hospitals. As a result, multiple hospitals are now neutral.

HB199 exempts freestanding birth centers with 4 or fewer beds from the certificate of need barrier. A freestanding birth center is a small, state-licensed and regulated healthcare facility where healthy women can go to give birth. It is an alternative to both a hospital birth and a home birth. Kentucky is one of only 8 states with no freestanding birth centers. The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) studied freestanding birth centers and found that women who received prenatal care in birth centers had better birth outcomes and lower costs relative to similar Medicaid beneficiaries not enrolled in the study.

Please vote yes on HB199 as amended in the House.

Thank you for your consideration.

Your Name
Your home mailing address
Your phone number

Send an email to your REPRESENTATIVE. Here is a sample (updated 3/27).

SUBJECT: Constituent email- SB89 Medicaid for LCPMs

Dear Represenative (insert Representative’s last name),

I am your constituent in (insert your town name). I am writing to ask for your support on SB89, which would provide Medicaid coverage for services of Licensed Certified Professional Midwives (LCPMs) in Kentucky. This bill passed the Senate and is now in the House. SB89 passed the House Health Services Committee unanimously on March 14 and is now in Appropriations and Revenue.

Choices in maternity care providers should not be limited because of a person’s ability to pay out of pocket. LCPMs are licensed in Kentucky and provide prenatal, home birth, and postpartum care, which means there is no hospital facility fee to be paid. As a result, every birth with an LCPM that is covered by Medicaid will save money for Kentucky Medicaid.

Thank you for your consideration.

Your Name
Your home mailing address
Your phone number