The purpose of this section is to improve patient outcomes by ensuring birthing centers inform clients of specific rights.

The birthing center at the time of registration, including clients of contractors, must provide each client with an electronic or written bill of rights. The bill of rights is part of the informed consent process in WAC 246-329-120(2), affirming each client's rights to:

(1) A listing of the services provided by the birth center;

(2) Be informed of the policies and procedures for admission and discharge;

(3) Be informed of the definition of a low-risk pregnancy and the benefits and risks of out-of-hospital labor and birth;

(4) Be informed of the eligibility criteria for birth center services;

(5) Be informed of the policies and procedures for clients who choose hospital transfer during their admission to the birth center;

(6) Be informed of the policies and procedures for emergency and nonemergency care in the event of complications to client and newborn;

(7) Be informed that unexpected neonatal emergencies requiring complex resuscitation are rare, but can occur, and the birthing center staff are prepared to provide initial steps of newborn resuscitation until the newborn has been transported and discharged to another provider for additional medical care;

(8) Participate in decisions relating to the plan for management of care including informed consent, informed refusal, and reassessment of these plans as conditions change;

(9) Be informed of the policies and procedures for consultation, referral, transfer of care and transport of a client or newborn to a hospital when additional care is necessary;

(10) Be informed of the process for submitting and addressing complaints;

(11) Submit complaints without retaliation and to have the complaint addressed by the licensee;

(12) Be informed of the state complaint hotline number;

(13) Be treated with courtesy, dignity, respect, privacy, and freedom from abuse and discrimination;

(14) Privacy of personal information and confidentiality of health care records;

(15) Be cared for by properly trained personnel, contractors, students and volunteers and be informed of the qualifications of clinical staff, consultants and related services and institutions;

(16) A fully itemized billing statement upon request, including the date of each service and the charge. Estimated billing statements will be provided within five business days after the request. Finalized billing statements will be provided after third party processing has been completed;

(17) Be informed about advanced directives and the birth center's scope of responsibility;

(18) Be informed of the liability insurance coverage of practitioners on request; and

(19) Be informed that newborns must be secured in an appropriate motor vehicle restraint system before being discharged from the facility.