HB729: HB729 Georgia Maternity Care Desert Reduction Act; enact

Georgia House Bill 729, the "Georgia Maternity Care Desert Reduction Act," responds to findings that about 34.6 percent of Georgia counties are maternity care deserts and that the state has one of the nation's highest maternal mortality rates, with racial disparities affecting Black women. The bill adds a new article to the state public health code (O.C.G.A. Chapter 2A of Title 31) defining terms like maternity care desert, low access to maternity care area, and obstetric provider. It directs the Department of Public Health to create a student loan repayment program for obstetric providers who work in underserved areas, a grant program for perinatal facilities to recruit staff and upgrade obstetric units, and a state funded program to help uninsured or underinsured pregnant women pay for obstetric care, transportation, telehealth, and child care. All three programs depend on the General Assembly actually appropriating money for them, and the department must report annually to state leaders and biennially recommend adjustments. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it or it becomes law without his signature.

• Creates a student loan repayment program for obstetric providers who agree to practice in low access or maternity care desert counties, with agreements lasting up to five years.
• Establishes a grant program for perinatal facilities (hospitals, clinics, birthing centers) in underserved counties to recruit staff, upgrade obstetric units, and partner with larger medical centers.
• Sets up a state funded program to help uninsured or underinsured pregnant women in underserved counties pay for obstetric care, transportation, telehealth, and child care.
• Allows the Department of Public Health to accept donations and pursue federal or private funding to support these programs.
• Requires the department to report annually to the Governor and legislative leaders on how many people used each program and how much money was spent.
• Makes all three programs contingent on the General Assembly actually including funding for them in annual state budget bills.

Obstetric providers such as OB-GYNs, family physicians who deliver babies, certified nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners; perinatal facilities like hospitals, clinics, and birth centers in underserved counties; pregnant women who are uninsured or underinsured and live in low access areas; and the Department of Public Health, which would run and report on the programs.

In the roughly one-third of Georgia counties classified as maternity care deserts, pregnant women often travel far for care or go without it. If funded, this bill could bring more obstetric providers and services to those counties and help low-income pregnant women afford care, transportation, and child care.

• Section 2 states legislative findings that about 34.6 percent of Georgia counties are maternity care deserts and that Georgia has high maternal mortality with racial disparities.
• New Code Section 31-2A-70 defines key terms, including 'maternity care desert' (no hospitals, birth centers, or obstetric providers) and 'low access to maternity care area' (limited services by specific thresholds).
• New Code Section 31-2A-71 creates the student loan repayment program, requiring recipients to sign agreements and remain Georgia residents practicing obstetric care in qualifying areas for up to five years.
• New Code Section 31-2A-72 creates a grant program for perinatal facilities to recruit providers, upgrade obstetric units, and partner with larger medical centers.
• New Code Section 31-2A-73 creates a state funded program, run with the Department of Community Health and the Commissioner of Insurance, to help pregnant women get obstetric care, transportation, telehealth, and child care.
• New Code Section 31-2A-74 allows the department to accept private donations and pursue federal funding for these programs.
• New Code Section 31-2A-75 requires an annual report on each program's participants and spending, plus biennial recommendations to the General Assembly.
• All three programs are explicitly contingent on the General Assembly appropriating funds, and the Act takes effect upon the Governor's approval or becoming law without it.

1. 2025-03-06House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-03-04House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-03-04House Hopper (House)

• Tanya Miller (D, HD-062)Primary sponsor
• Carolyn Hugley (D, HD-141)
• Kim Schofield (D, HD-063)
• Miriam Paris (D, HD-142)
• Debbie Buckner (D, HD-137)
• Park Cannon (D, HD-058)

• maternal health
• obstetric care
• rural health care
• maternity care deserts
• student loan repayment