SC asking hospitals to quit early C-sections

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina’s Medicaid agency is collecting commitments from hospitals that they will quit delivering babies early through elective Cesarean sections.

The state Department of Health and Human Services asked hospitals to sign forms by Friday voluntarily pledging to stop performing elective C-sections before 39 weeks. The normal length of pregnancy is about 40 weeks.

Agency spokesman Jeff Stensland says the initiative is aimed at reducing the number of low-weight babies born with development problems. He also says it is a way to cut costs.

The agency expects to save $1 million in state money or $3.1 million total including the federal match. Doctors performed about 2,500 early elective C-sections last year on women whose bills were paid by Medicaid. The operation costs nearly $5,600 more than a baby delivered full-term.