Here is what this means for our community and our ongoing efforts:

$1.6 million for the Newport Hospital Birthing Center

The state budget includes $1.6 million from general revenue to support continued operation of the Newport Hospital Birthing center. This represents one third of the $4.9 million Brown University Health has stated is needed to keep the birthing center open. Additionally the budget invests heavily in our healthcare and hospital system as detailed below which will further alleviate financial strain on Brown University Health and Newport Hospital

Protecting the Future of the Birthing Center

The budget bill was amended to include legislation Representative Carson proposed earlier this session (2026-H 7272) for a “reverse certificate of need” requirement.

This legislation legally prohibits the closure or significant reduction of services of any birthing center without advance notice, a formal application, full financial disclosure, a public hearing, and explicit approval by the Department of Health.

This provides extensive protections to prevent future closure of the birthing center at Newport Hospital and throughout Rhode Island including:

• High Burden of Proof: Hospital leadership must prove by “clear and convincing evidence” that a facility cannot be saved through restructuring or financial support from the parent system.

• Mandatory Local Impact Studies: Before any changes can be approved, the hospital must provide full data on how a reduction would impact local EMS transport times, high-risk pregnancies, and low-income families.

• Protects Against Disparities: The Department of Health is legally required to reject any application if the changes would worsen geographic, economic, or racial disparities in maternal healthcare.

Supporting Our Healthcare System

The budget invests heavily in the state’s healthcare system as a whole:

• Medicaid Rate Increases: The budget implements the recommendations of Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner rate review, allocating $115 million in increased support over one year.

• Uncompensated Care: The committee allocated an additional $26 million to support uncompensated care across Rhode Island hospitals.

What’s Next for the Coalition

We want Newport Hospital to succeed. This budget victory delivers the exact resources and rate improvements the hospital system needs, while building a legal wall to protect maternal care on Aquidneck Island.

As Representative Carson shared:

“The coalition looks forward to working with the hospital. We want it to succeed, and we are committed to ensuring that our birthing center becomes a state-of-the-art facility that provides the best of care to support healthy outcomes for babies and moms in our community and beyond.”

While things are looking incredibly good right now and we are celebrating this massive step forward, our work isn't completely over. Please hold on to your Save Newport Birthing Center lawn signs so we are ready to show our visible, passionate support for our hospital and our birthing center if it's needed in the future.

Thank you!

This milestone is a true testament to the power of collective action. We want to extend a massive thank you to our Newport legislative delegation, Senator Lou DiPalma, Senator Dawn Euer, Representative Marvin Abney, and Representative Lauren Carson for introducing and passing this legislation and their commitment to safeguarding infant and maternal health in our community. We owe a special note of gratitude to Representative Carson as a tireless champion for this cause and for introducing the vital “reverse certificate of need” legislation.

We also want to thank every single member of the Birthing Center Coalition and the many many community members and partners whose advocacy and testimony made it clear that this facility is absolutely essential to our community.

Please consider submitting testimony in support of the bill.

Send written testimony to:

HouseFinance@rilegislature.gov by 3pm TODAY (Tuesday, 5/12)!

Sample testimony:

1. Short Version of the Letter

Here is a short support letter for H8490:

Dear Chair Abney and Members of the House Finance Committee,

I respectfully urge your support for H8490, the “Noreen Drexel Birthing Center Fund Act.” This legislation provides an important and balanced strategy to preserve essential maternal and infant healthcare services for families in Newport County.

The Newport Hospital birthing center is a critical community healthcare resource that allows women and families to access safe, high-quality maternity care close to home. H8490 creates a collaborative funding model between the State of Rhode Island, Brown Health, and the philanthropic community to stabilize and strengthen these services while ensuring accountability, transparency, and long-term planning.

This bill recognizes that access to local birthing services is not only a healthcare issue, but also a matter of public health, family well-being, and regional equity. I encourage the committee to support H8490 and help secure the long-term sustainability of the Newport Hospital birthing center.

Thank you for your consideration.

2. Longer Version of the Letter

Here is a longer and more detailed support letter for H8490:

Dear Chair Abney and Members of the House Finance Committee,

I respectfully write in strong support of H8490, legislation establishing the Noreen Drexel Birthing Center Fund to support the continued operation and long-term sustainability of birthing services at Newport Hospital.

This bill addresses an urgent and significant healthcare challenge facing Newport County families. The potential loss of the Newport Hospital birthing center would have serious consequences for pregnant women, infants, healthcare providers, and the broader community. Access to local maternal healthcare is an essential component of a healthy community and should not be treated as an optional service dependent solely upon short-term financial calculations.

Newport County is geographically isolated from the rest of Rhode Island. For many families, particularly during medical emergencies, severe weather, traffic congestion, or high-risk pregnancies, traveling off-island for labor and delivery care presents real risks and hardships. The continued operation of local birthing services is critical for ensuring timely access to prenatal, labor and delivery, postpartum, and neonatal care close to home.

The Newport Hospital birthing center also serves an important role in supporting community health outcomes. Local maternity care strengthens continuity of care for mothers and infants, improves healthcare access, and supports the long-term well-being of families throughout the region. Preserving these services also helps maintain Newport Hospital’s role as a full-service community hospital capable of meeting the diverse healthcare needs of residents and visitors alike.

H8490 proposes a thoughtful and collaborative funding model that recognizes the shared responsibility of maintaining essential healthcare infrastructure. The bill calls for a partnership between the State of Rhode Island, Brown Health, and the philanthropic community to stabilize operations while long-term planning and sustainability strategies are developed. This balanced approach ensures that no single entity bears the entire burden while also creating accountability and transparency around future investments and operational planning.

Importantly, this legislation creates an opportunity to move beyond crisis management and toward a long-term vision for maternal and infant healthcare in Newport County. The goal should not simply be to prevent closure for another year, but to build a modern, sustainable, high-quality birthing program that can continue serving families for generations to come.

The community response to the potential closure of the birthing center has demonstrated how deeply residents value these services. Families, healthcare professionals, local leaders, and community organizations have united around the importance of preserving local maternity care. H8490 reflects that shared commitment and provides a practical framework for action.

I respectfully urge the committee to support H8490 and to recognize the preservation of local birthing services as a critical public health investment for Rhode Island families.

Thank you for your consideration and leadership on this important issue.

Saturday, May 2, 2026

10:00 AM

Begin at Equality Park → March to Newport Birthing Center

Rain or Shine

Brown Health has committed to keeping the birthing center open, a meaningful step forward. Now, we must ensure that commitment translates into long-term sustainability and strong support for the healthcare workers who make this care possible every day.

This gathering is about showing continued public support, uplifting the nurses, doctors, and staff, and reinforcing that our community values accessible, local birthing care.

Participants are encouraged to bring an infant onesie to represent themselves or their child(ren) born at Newport Hospital, a visible reminder of the lives and families connected to this space.

Let’s keep the momentum going!

Today is the day for Lobby Day at the Statehouse! Thank you to all who are planning to participate!

If you’re able to join in person, we encourage you to connect with legislators and help elevate the importance of this issue. Your presence makes a difference. After Lobby Day, you can stay to testify on key legislation.

If you can’t attend in person, you can still have an impact by submitting written testimony. Sharing your perspective, whether personal, professional, or organizational, helps ensure policy makers understand what’s at stake.

Lobby Day - April 9th

3 pm at the Rhode Island State House

Room 135 on the first floor.

Here’s a map to help you find the room.

Try to arrive by 2:45 pm. We recommend parking at the Providence Place Mall in the North Garage near Panera Bread and walking to the State House from there.

Can’t make it in person? Jump to written testimony info.

Testify at the State House - April 9th

4 pm

House Committee on Health and Human Services

Room 101 on the first floor

• House Bill No. 7272 Prohibits the closure or significant reduction of services of a birthing center without notice, application, financial disclosure, public hearing, and approval by the department of health,

• House Bill No. 7626 Establishes the Rhode Island Maternal Health Improvement and Equity Act of 2026, to establish permanent statewide support for maternal health and to implement the maternal health strategic plan improving maternal health care and access.

• House Resolution No. 8203 This resolution would condition the distribution of any state funds to Brown University Health on the continued operation of a birthing center in the city of Newport.

Senate Committee on Health and Human Services

Room 211 on the 2nd floor

• Senate Bill No. 2380 Prohibits the closure or significant reduction of services of a birthing center without notice, application, financial disclosure, public hearing, and approval by the department of health.

If you’ve never testified at the statehouse before it can seem daunting! But truly, your elected representatives care what you think and just want to hear from you! There will be advocates at lobby day who can help walk you through the process.

A few things to keep in mind:

• You don’t need to be perfect, just be genuine.

• It’s okay (and preferable) to be brief. A minute or two can have a powerful impact. Try to keep it under 3 minutes.

• You can read from notes if it helps keep your thoughts in order but if you have full written statement it is better to submit that as written testimony rather than reading directly from it.

• Stick with what you know; personal stories are best if you have one.

• Outside of your personal story, confine remarks to irrefutable facts and/or your area of expertise only.

Submit Written Testimony

by 3 p.m. TODAY (April 9)

If you are unable to attend in person, you can submit written testimony by email. Written testimony typically becomes part of the public record and is shared with committee members for their review.

Written testimony must include your name/organization, bill number(s), and viewpoint (for/against/neither). If you do not want your email address posted with your document, redact your email address, scan the document, and send it to the committee email address. More information on written testimony can be found here.

For House Bill No. 7272, House Bill No. 7626, and House Resolution No. 8203 submit to HouseHealthandHumanServices@rilegislature.gov

For Senate Bill No. 2380 submit to Slegislation@rilegislature.gov

If your reasoning for advocating for these bills is the same then there is no reason to write different testimony for each. You can write and submit one testimony for all three House Bills together. For the Senate Bill just change the language to reflect Senate Bill No. 2380. This is the same as House Bill No. 7272.

Sample Testimony

(we encourage you to write as much as possible in your own words)

Dear Chair and Members of the House Health Committee:

Newport Hospital must offer essential health care services to our communities and families on Aquidneck Island.

I write in strong support of H8203, H7272 and H7626. Access to local maternity care is a fundamental component of public health infrastructure. When birthing services are reduced or eliminated without meaningful transparency and review, families and communities bear the consequences.

H8203 ties strings to any money that Brown Health receives from the taxpayer money from the State of Rhode Island. If Brown Health receives any money from the state of Rhode Island to ensure essential health care services for Rhode Islanders, it must keep the Newport Hospital Birthing Center open.

H7272 strengthens oversight by requiring clear financial justification, public notice, and Department of Health approval before a birthing center can be closed or materially reduced. These safeguards ensure that decisions impacting maternal and newborn care are made transparently and with full consideration of community needs.

This bill does not prevent responsible health system management — it ensures accountability when essential services are at stake.

H7626 ensures that maternal health data, workforce development, and equity initiatives are integrated into long-term state policy rather than temporary initiatives.

Maternal health outcomes reflect the strength of our healthcare system as a whole. This bill provides the stability and accountability necessary to improve outcomes for mothers and infants statewide.

I respectfully urge passage.

Sincerely,

[Name]

[Title / Organization (if applicable)/ Municipality]

But there is still more to do.

Brown Health reported April 3 that they are keeping the Birthing Center open. They need 5 million dollars to do that.

The next steps are critical.

Lobby Day for the Birthing Center

April 9 at the State House is still happening.

Room 135 at 3:00 pm

And we need your testimony on the bills being heard next week in the RI House Health Committee.

There are still unanswered questions about the future of the birthing Center.

Where will the money come from?

Is this a long-term decision?

How can the community be involved in the future decisions about the birthing center?

That’s why we still need your testimony on the bills being heard on April 9 in the House Health Committee.

You can send in written testimony OR testify in person.

We need to show our commitment and strength at this time.

We are writing to let you know that three House Bills sponsored by Representative Lauren Carson, concerning the Newport Hospital Birthing Center, are up for a hearing in the RI House Health Committee on April 9 at 5:00 at the Rhode Island State House in room 101.

If you are planning to testify in person, arrive by 4:30, consider the rush hour traffic, and park at the Providence Place mall and walk over.

Now is the moment to speak up and send

written testimony to the Health Committee.

H8203 This resolution would condition the distribution of any state funds to Brown University Health on the continued operation of a birthing center in the city of Newport.

H7272 This act would prohibit the closure or significant reduction of services of a birthing center without notice, application, financial disclosure, public hearing, and approval by the Department of Health.

H7626 This act would establish the Rhode Island Maternal Health Improvement and Equity Act of 2026, to establish permanent statewide support for maternal health and to implement the maternal health strategic plan, improving maternal health care and access.

You can send written testimony between April 4 and April 9 to HouseHealthandHumanServices@rilegislature.gov

To Submit Written Testimony:
If you are unable to attend in person, you can submit written testimony by email. Written testimony typically becomes part of the public record and is shared with committee members for their review.

Written testimony must include your name/organization, bill number(s), and viewpoint

(for/against/neither). If you do not want your email address posted with your document, redact your email address, scan the document, and send it to the committee email address. More information on written testimony can be found here.

Where to Send It?

To: House Health and Human Services Committee at:

HouseHealthandHumanServices@rilegislature.gov

Sample testimony:

Your message should include the message:

“We are glad that Brown Health has made this decision, but we need a long-term solution to keep the Birthing Center secure for this essential health care in Newport County.”

Get all your friends to send written testimony today!

Sample Testimony

(we encourage you to write as much as possible in your own words)

Dear Chair and Members of the House Health Committee:

Newport Hospital must offer essential health care services to our communities and families on Aquidneck Island.

I write in strong support of H8203, H7272 and H7627. Access to local maternity care is a fundamental component of public health infrastructure. When birthing services are reduced or eliminated without meaningful transparency and review, families and communities bear the consequences.

H8203 ties strings to any money that Brown Health receives from the taxpayer money from the State of Rhode Island. If Brown Health receives any money from the state of Rhode Island to ensure essential health care services for Rhode Islanders, it must keep the Newport Hospital Birthing Center open.

H7272 strengthens oversight by requiring clear financial justification, public notice, and Department of Health approval before a birthing center can be closed or materially reduced. These safeguards ensure that decisions impacting maternal and newborn care are made transparently and with full consideration of community needs.

This bill does not prevent responsible health system management — it ensures accountability when essential services are at stake.

H7626 ensures that maternal health data, workforce development, and equity initiatives are integrated into long-term state policy rather than temporary initiatives.

Maternal health outcomes reflect the strength of our healthcare system as a whole. This bill provides the stability and accountability necessary to improve outcomes for mothers and infants statewide.

I respectfully urge passage.

Sincerely,

[Name]

[Title / Organization (if applicable)/ Municipality]

The birthing center at Newport Hospital is under active review by Brown Health due to concerns about staffing, declining birth volume, and financial sustainability. No final decision has been announced, but closure or restructuring is being considered.

Why is this important?

The birthing center is an essential healthcare service for Newport County families. Without it, patients would need to travel off-island—primarily to Providence—for labor and delivery, increasing health risks, stress, and barriers to care and increased costs to families and municipal emergency transportation services.

Where does the decision stand?

• The process is ongoing and not finalized

• Brown Health has conducted internal evaluations

• A Community Advisory Panel (CAP) has met to assess options

• No public plan or timeline has been clearly shared

Who is making the decision?

• Brown Health leadership (parent system)

• Newport Hospital leadership

They are receiving input from:

• Community Advisory Panel (CAP)

• Medical staff and providers

What is the Community Advisory Panel (CAP)?

A group convened last Fall and was appointed by Brown Health to:

• Review safety and quality

• Assess staffing and patient volume

• Recommend next steps

There is currently limited public transparency about its findings or recommendations.

When will a decision be made?

• No clear public timeline has been provided

• A decision could come within the next several weeks or months

• Community leaders are calling for transparency and public input before any final decision

What happens if the birthing center closes?

• All deliveries shift off-island (likely to Providence)

• Significantly longer travel times during labor, disproportionately impacting low-income families and families with limited transportation.

• Increased strain on regional hospitals

• Potential negative impacts on maternal and infant health

• Heightened risks for Black, Latino, and Native American residents already facing structural barriers to care and disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes

• Loss of a critical local healthcare service

What is the Birthing Center Coalition asking for now?

• A clear, public plan and transparent timeline for the decision process

• Transparency in data and decision-making

• A commitment to maintaining accessible, local maternal care access

• Meaningful engagement of impacted community members in decision-making.

• Exploration of solutions to sustain services, including:

  • Workforce investments

  • Regional partnerships

  • State and philanthropic support

What role can the State of Rhode Island play?

• Provide targeted funding or incentives

• Require transparency and impact analysis

• Support the maternal healthcare workforce

• Recognize maternal care as an essential regional service

What can you do right now?

You can take action to support keeping the birthing center open

• Send an email to:

  • John Fernandez, President of Brown Health, John.Fernandez@brownhealth.org

  • Tenny Thomas, President of Newport Hospital, TThomas6@brownhealth.org

  In your message:

  • Ask them to keep the Newport Hospital birthing center open

  • Urge them to explore all options for sustainability

  • Encourage investment in building a 5-star, high-quality birthing center in Newport County

  • Share why local access to maternal care matters to you and your family

  • Ask for public meetings on the decision process now

Here is a sample letter, we encourage you to write as much as possible in your own words:

Dear Mr. Fernandez and Dr. Thomas,

I am writing to urge you to keep the birthing center at Newport Hospital open and to fully explore all options to sustain and strengthen this essential service.

For families in Newport County, local access to safe, high-quality maternal care is critical. Requiring patients to travel off-island for labor and delivery would create unnecessary risks, stress, and barriers—especially for those with limited resources or high-risk pregnancies.

I respectfully ask that you:

• Commit to maintaining birthing services at Newport Hospital

• Provide a clear and transparent plan for the program’s future

• Explore all possible solutions to build a sustainable, high-quality, “5-star” birthing center that serves our community for the long term

This is not just a healthcare service—it is a vital part of our community’s wellbeing.[Optional: Add a personal sentence about why this matters to you or your family.]

Thank you for your leadership and your consideration.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Your Town / Newport County Resident]

Bottom Line

No final decision has been made.

The coming weeks and months are critical to ensure Newport County families continue to have safe and local access to essential maternal care.

Next Steps:

Mark your calendar: Lobby Day at the RI State House

Thursday, April 9, 3:00

More information in our next newsletter.

The Birthing Center Coalition is a broad community group of concerned Newport individuals and organizations working to preserve the Birthing Center at Newport Hospital.

The Coalition for Newport Hospital Birthing Center is dedicated to protecting and sustaining access to local, high-quality maternal and newborn care for Newport County and Aquidneck Island families.

We advocate for the continued operation of the Noreen Stonor Drexel Birthing Center at Newport Hospital, recognizing its essential role in community health, public safety, and equitable access to care.

Our members and newsletters are listed on our website:

https://www.savenewportbirthingcenter.org/home

Missed a newsletter? Get caught up on substack!

Please let us know if you plan to attend: Register for Lobby Day

Share Your Story

Personal stories help decision-makers understand the impact of the birthing center and raise community awareness.

Stories may be shared in: newsletters, social media, advocacy materials, or websites.

Tell your story in whatever way feels most comfortable. We welcome written statements, video recording, or audio recording! You may submit anonymously or with your name.

Ways to submit:

• The Newport Health Equity Zone (HEZ) is supporting story submission via email at newporthez@gmail.com or via facebook messenger

• Google Form: https://forms.gle/hWxbSLkvthmiL4ES8

Not sure what to say? Here are a few tips to get you started

Write a Letter to the Editor

Letters help raise awareness and show community support. Include:

• Why the birthing center matters

• Your personal connection

• A clear call to keep it open

• Keep it brief

• Include your name, town, and contact info for verification.

More tips and contacts for local newspapers.

What Else Can You Do?

In upcoming newsletters we will highlight additional ways to to get involved and provide more in depth information on each of the following!

Write to Hospital Leadership

Write to the Chair of the Board and the President of Brown University Healthcare and let them know why the birthing center must remain open.

Tips: Keep letters brief and respectful and ask that the birthing center remain open. We’ll share more information on how to write and send a letter to Brown.

Testify on State Legislation

Two bills have been introduced at the Rhode Island State House for this Legislative Session:

• H7272 – Birthing Center Protection Act: Requires hospitals to follow a transparent process before closing or reducing services.

• H7626 – Rhode Island Maternal Health Improvement & Equity Act: Establishes a permanent statewide framework to improve maternal health outcomes.

Stay tuned for more information on how to submit written testimony or testify in person.

🌟Community Spotlight

Sarah Killeen is a local birth doula and military spouse who has supported many families giving birth at Newport Hospital. She shared why keeping the Newport Birthing Center open is deeply important to the families she serves, especially those who are new to our community.

“In my work as a doula, I have had the privilege of supporting many births at Newport Hospital. I have also worked with numerous military families who have recently relocated to the area from all around the world. For many of these families, arriving in a new place during pregnancy can feel overwhelming and isolating. Having a trusted, local birth center where they can receive compassionate, high-quality care makes an incredible difference in their experience.

Newport Hospital’s birth center provides not only excellent medical care but also a sense of stability and reassurance for families who may not yet have an established support network. For military families in particular, whose partners may face deployments or demanding schedules, access to a nearby, reliable birth center is essential.”

Sarah remind us that the birth center is more than a service, it is a source of continuity, compassion, and connection for local families.

The storm this week made one thing clear: for Aquidneck Island, local maternity care is not optional. It is essential infrastructure.

This week’s historic blizzard brought Aquidneck Island to a standstill. Snowfall measured in feet, hurricane-force wind gusts, white-out conditions, and widespread power outages made travel nearly impossible. Most notably, the Newport Pell Bridge, Jamestown Bridge, Mount Hope Bridge, and Sakonnet River Bridge were all closed, effectively cutting the island off from the mainland.

For residents, that meant isolation. For anyone needing emergency medical care, it meant uncertainty.

During the storm, one expectant mother from Bristol made the decision to stay at a hotel in Newport so she could be close to the Newport Hospital Birthing Center rather than risk being unable to cross the bridges when labor began. Her decision speaks volumes.

If the Newport Hospital Birthing Center were closed during a storm like this, a woman in labor on Aquidneck Island could face the frightening and dangerous reality of needing to reach Providence or South County while Aquidneck Island is effectively sealed off by bridge closures and travel bans.

This week’s storm was more than a weather event. It was a powerful reminder that for island communities, access to local maternity care is not a luxury, it is a necessity.

Welcome to the Coalition for Newport Hospital Birthing Center’s biweekly newsletter. This coalition was formed in response to the uncertain future of the Noreen Stonor Drexel Birthing Center and its vital importance to the community. After the successful protests last summer, Brown University Health announced that the Birthing Center would remain on the fiscal year 2026 budget. Its long-term future is still uncertain, as a one-year extension was given to decide the center’s future.

In response to this uncertainty and the need for the center to remain open to families in Newport County, we have formed the Coalition for Newport Hospital Birthing Center. We are comprised of Rhode Island residents and families, healthcare workers and advocates, civic leaders, and community organizations. Our mission is dedicated to protecting and sustaining access to local, high-quality maternal and newborn care for Newport County and Aquidneck Island. We advocate for the continued operation of the Noreen Stonor Drexel Birthing Center at Newport Hospital, recognizing its essential role in community health, public safety, and equitable access to care.

We believe that local access to obstetrics and maternal healthcare is not a convenience, but a public health necessity.

Approximately 500 babies are born at the center each year. Removing such an important service would force expectant mothers to travel significantly farther for care -- a risk that is compounded by ongoing road and bridge construction in Rhode Island and the time-sensitive nature of childbirth. Newport Fire and Rescue would also face increased emergency transport demands, and ambulances and personnel could be diverted from other critical calls. Emergency response times across the city would be impacted. This is not only an issue for families in the area, but for anyone in our communities who may have to rely on emergency services, which is to say, all of us.

Important Dates and Events:

• Monday, March 2nd 6:00-7:30 pm - Constituent Meeting with Rep. Lauren Carson, Newport Public Library, The Friends Room

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Visit our Website:

https://www.savenewportbirthingcenter.org