Iowa
Midwives’ lawsuit challenging Iowa certificate-of-need law can continue, judge says
![Midwives’ lawsuit challenging Iowa certificate-of-need law can continue, judge says](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2023/01/26/PDEM/8c9ca5a4-0a2b-4399-aaab-d8a45675d58a-Midwives_2.jpeg?auto=webp&crop=1079,607,x0,y54&format=pjpg&width=1200)
A pair of central Iowa midwives fighting for the right to build a stand-alone birthing center can continue their lawsuit against the state, a federal court ruled Wednesday.
Caitlin Hainley and Emily Zambrano-Andrews, who together make up the Des Moines Midwife Collective, are challenging a state law requiring any new medical facility obtain a “certificate of need” from regulators. That involves, among other expensive and time-consuming steps, giving any potential competitor notice of the proposal and the opportunity to argue why the new facility is not truly needed.
Hainley and Zambrano-Andrews, who currently provide home birth services throughout the Des Moines metro, want to open a birth center with tubs and other equipment so patients can give birth in a home-like setting. Their attorneys say that midwife service, whether at home or a birth center, is fundamentally different than that provided by hospital maternity wards. Their lawsuit, filed in February 2023, argues it is unconstitutional for the state to grant what amounts to a “competitor’s veto” to established businesses.
The state filed to dismiss the lawsuit. Wednesday’s ruling, by Chief District Judge Stephanie Rose, largely denies that motion. But Rose did rule the certificate of need law does not infringe on any “fundamental right” under the U.S. Constitution, meaning it will be easier for the state to prove its law is constitutional.
From 2023: MercyOne Des Moines to shut down its midwives program. What that means for pregnant moms:
The Iowa Attorney General’s Office did not respond to a message seeking comment. Wilson Freeman, an attorney with the libertarian-leaning Pacific Legal Foundation who is representing the midwives, said in an email they believe they will prevail even if the court does not agree the law infringes on their fundamental rights.
Strict scrutiny or rational basis?
Any law that burdens what courts consider to be a fundamental right — such as freedom of speech, the right to marry and have children, and more — must survive what is known as strict scrutiny, meaning it must be found to be “narrowly tailored” to serve a “compelling” government interest.
If a law does not implicate a fundamental right, courts instead apply what is known as rational basis review, meaning the law must only be “rationally related” to a “legitimate” government interest.
In this case, the midwives argued the certificate of need law violated multiple fundamental rights, including the right of mothers to choose their place and manner of giving birth and the right of the plaintiffs to earn their living. But the judge rejected those claims, finding other courts have declined to make birth setting a fundamental right and noting the U.S. Supreme Court’s “unmistakable resistance” to recognizing additional rights as fundamental.
Case can continue, judge rules
Attorneys for the state had asked for the case to be dismissed entirely, but Rose refused, finding the plaintiffs have “plausibly” argued the certificate of need law might fail even under rational basis review.
Among other arguments, Rose noted that the midwives raise the question of why they are allowed to provide home births without a certificate of need, but do need a certificate to provide the same service in a centralized location. Such a distinction does not improve the cost, availability or quality of maternal care, the women argue. Rose wrote the women have asserted a “plausible claim for relief” that the law lacks a rational basis, and agreed the lawsuit should continue.
Previously: Iowa finally passed a law to license midwives. Will it help sway medical field doubters?
Freeman, representing the midwives, told the Register they’re prepared to fight that fight.
“There is no rational reason for the state to require a certificate of need for midwives who want to help women give birth in a dedicated facility, while allowing midwives to attend births literally anywhere else without such a certificate, Freeman said. “While we continue to believe a fundamental right is implicated by the regulation, the law is unconstitutional under either standard.”
And although rational basis review is favorable to the state, similar laws have failed that test before, Freeman said. A Kentucky law requiring a certificate of need for moving companies was struck down under rational basis in 2014.
The case currently is scheduled for a bench trial before Rose in January 2025.
William Morris covers courts for the Des Moines Register. He can be contacted at wrmorris2@registermedia.com or 715-573-8166.
![](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/np-logo.png)
Iowa
Helicopters Go to Pluck People Off Roofs in Flooded Iowa Town
![Helicopters Go to Pluck People Off Roofs in Flooded Iowa Town](https://img1-azrcdn.newser.com/image/1542128-12-20240622141002.jpeg)
The governor of Iowa sent helicopters to a small town to evacuate people from flooded homes Saturday, the result of weeks of rain. Sirens blared at 2am in Rock Valley, Iowa, population 4,200, where people in hundreds of homes were told to get out as the Rock River could no longer take rain that has slammed the region. The city lacked running water because wells were unusable, the AP reports. “We’ve got National Guard helicopters coming in where people are on their roofs—literally on their roofs or the second floor because their first floor is completely flooded,” Mayor Kevin Van Otterloo said.
“We’ve had so much rain here,” Otterloo said. “We had four inches last night in an hour and a half time. Our ground just cannot take anymore.” Gov. Kim Reynolds declared a disaster for Sioux County, which includes Rock Valley. Drone video posted by the sheriff showed no streets, just roofs and the tops of trees above water. Elsewhere in Iowa, power was cut off at wastewater treatment plants in Hawarden and Spencer, which together have 14,000 residents. Aiden Engelkes said he and his girlfriend grabbed clothes, cats, and bottled water and left their flooded first-floor apartment in Spencer for a friend’s dry space on the fourth floor. “It’s terrifying,” Engelkes, 20, said, adding that friends across the street were on a roof waiting for help.
(More Iowa stories.)
Iowa
Disaster proclamation issued for 21 Iowa counties due to storms and flooding
![Disaster proclamation issued for 21 Iowa counties due to storms and flooding](https://gray-kcrg-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/P5UJHSZQVJBV3GV5UYKCICE33A.jpg?auth=76119d5af8eca749ad6f4848606ab262179ed1c75d8553fec712cfc5d73e4bfa&width=1200&height=600&smart=true)
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Iowa Govenor Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for 21 Iowa counties on Saturday.
The proclamation is in response to the storms and flooding the counties received on Friday.
These counties include Buena Vista, Cerro Gordo, Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Floyd, Hancock, Humboldt, Kossuth, Lyon, O’Brien, Osceola, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Sioux, Webster, Winnebago, Woodbury, Worth, and Wright.
The proclamation opens up certain state resources for disaster recovery, as well as grants of up to $5,000 for households earning up to 200% of the poverty level.
The proclamation was originally issued for Sioux County but was then extended to include the other 20 counties.
Those impacted by the storms have 45 days to file an application here.
Copyright 2024 KCRG. All rights reserved.
Iowa
Northwest Iowa Faces Flooding, Evacuations After Heavy Rains – KIWA Radio
![Northwest Iowa Faces Flooding, Evacuations After Heavy Rains – KIWA Radio](https://kiwaradio.com/wp-content/uploads/Island-Park-Flooding-2024.jpg)
Northwest Iowa — There are flood warnings issued in northwest Iowa as water levels continue to rise. Rock Valley Mayor Kevin Van Otterloo is closely monitoring the Rock River that runs north of town. It reached record levels during devastating flooding ten years ago, and its at those same levels again.
The projection was for a crest at about 23 and a half feet, about a foot higher than the record, but overnight the level was at about 24 and a half feet and still rising.
During the past several years, Rock Valley built berms to protect property and people. Sandbagging is underway not only in Rock Valley but other communities in nearby Lyon and Plymouth counties. Van Otterloo says evacuations have been ordered.
About 1:30 a.m. Saturday morning, Rock Valley officials set off the sirens in Rock Valley, meaning if people were in the evacuation zone to evacuate their houses if able. Upstream at Rock Rapids, emergency crews evacuated several homes in the wee hours of Saturday morning.
The Faith Reformed and Trinity Reformed churches in Rock Valley are serving as a shelter in that community and the Central Lyon Elementary Gym is serving as a shelter in Rock Rapids.
-
Politics1 week ago
President Biden had front row seat to dog, Commander, repeatedly biting Secret Service agents: report
-
News1 week ago
171,000 Traveled for Abortions Last Year. See Where They Went.
-
Politics1 week ago
Trump travels to DC to meet with congressional Republicans, speak with nation's top business executives
-
News7 days ago
It's easy to believe young voters could back Trump at young conservative conference
-
World6 days ago
Swiss summit demands 'territorial integrity' of Ukraine
-
Politics1 week ago
Biden’s ’pre-9/11 posture’ to blame for ISIS migrants slipping through cracks: expert
-
World1 week ago
Russian warships in Cuba: Is it a port of call or show of strength?
-
World1 week ago
Election aftermath – MEPs to watch on economic and financial policy