(a) “Birthing center” shall mean a publicly or privately owned facility, place or institution constructed, renovated, leased or otherwise established where nonemergency births are planned to occur away from the mother’s usual residence following a documented period of prenatal care for a normal uncomplicated pregnancy which has been determined to be low risk through a formal risk scoring examination. Care provided in a birthing center shall be provided by a licensed physician, or certified nurse midwife, and a registered nurse. Services provided in a birthing center shall be limited in the following manner: (i) surgical services shall be limited to those normally performed during uncomplicated childbirth, such as episiotomy and repair, and shall not include operative obstetrics or caesarean sections; (ii) labor shall not be inhibited, stimulated or augmented with chemical agents during the first or second stage of labor; (iii) systemic analgesia may be administered and local anesthesia for pudendal block and episiotomy repair may be performed. General and conductive anesthesia shall not be administered at birthing centers; (iv) patients shall not remain in the facility in excess of twenty-four (24) hours.

(b) “Hospital affiliated” birthing center shall mean a separate and distinct unit of a hospital or a building owned, leased, rented or utilized by a hospital and located in the same county as the hospital for the purpose of providing the service of a “birthing center.” Such center or facility is not required to be licensed separately, and may operate under the license issued to the hospital if it is in compliance with Section 41-9-1 et seq., where applicable, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the licensing agency in furtherance thereof.

(c) “Freestanding” birthing center shall mean a separate and distinct facility or center or a separate and distinct organized unit of a hospital or other defined persons (Section 41-7-173(p)) for the purpose of performing the service of a “birthing center.” Such facility or center must be separately licensed and must comply with all licensing standards promulgated by the licensing agency by virtue of this chapter. Further, such facility or center must be a separate, identifiable entity and must be physically, administratively and financially independent from other operations of any hospital or other health-care facility or service and shall maintain a separate and required staff, including administrative staff. Further, any “birthing center” licensed as a “freestanding” center shall not become a component of any hospital or other health-care facility without securing a “certificate of need.”

(d) “Licensing agency” shall mean the State Department of Health.