HB885: HB885 Public Health, Department of; establish program to assist certain pregnant women who reside in low access to maternity care areas and maternity care deserts in obtaining obstetric care

Some Georgia counties have very few or no hospitals, birth centers, or obstetric providers offering pregnancy care. This bill defines those areas as 'low access to maternity care areas' and 'maternity care deserts' and directs the Department of Public Health, working with the Department of Community Health and the Commissioner of Insurance, to set up a program helping pregnant women who live there and lack adequate insurance get obstetric care and related services. The department would create application and approval rules and could pay for or reimburse obstetric care, mental health services during pregnancy and after birth, telehealth visits, transportation to appointments, and child care during appointments. The program depends on the General Assembly actually funding it in future budgets. The department could also accept donations and pursue federal or private grants, and must report annually on the program's results and make recommendations every two years. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it.

• Creates a new program inside the Department of Public Health to help uninsured or underinsured pregnant women in defined low-access counties obtain obstetric care.
• Defines 'low access to maternity care area' and 'maternity care desert' based on the number of hospitals, birth centers, and obstetric providers in a county.
• Authorizes the department to pay for or reimburse obstetric care, mental health services, telehealth visits, transportation, and child care tied to pregnancy appointments.
• Makes the program's operation contingent on the General Assembly actually appropriating (setting aside) money for it each year.
• Allows the department to accept private donations and pursue federal or philanthropic funding for the program.
• Requires an annual report to state leaders and biennial recommendations on whether to continue, end, or improve the program.

Pregnant women living in Georgia counties with very few or no obstetric providers, especially those who are uninsured or underinsured. It also affects the Department of Public Health, the Department of Community Health, the Commissioner of Insurance, obstetric providers, and lawmakers who would need to fund the program each year.

Women in rural or underserved Georgia counties often have to travel far for pregnancy care, which can raise health risks for mother and baby. If funded, this program could pay for care, transportation, and child care that currently create barriers, though nothing happens unless the General Assembly sets aside the money.

• Section 1 adds a new Article 4 to Chapter 2A of Title 31 of the Georgia code (O.C.G.A. § 31-2A-70 et seq.) covering the Department of Public Health.
• O.C.G.A. § 31-2A-70 defines key terms, including 'low access to maternity care area' (one hospital/birth center, fewer than 60 obstetric providers per 10,000 births, or 10 percent or more uninsured reproductive-age women) and 'maternity care desert' (no hospitals, birth centers, or obstetric providers).
• O.C.G.A. § 31-2A-71 directs the department to run the assistance program and lists five categories of services it can pay for or reimburse, including obstetric care, mental health services, telehealth, transportation, and child care.
• O.C.G.A. § 31-2A-71(e) makes the whole program contingent on the General Assembly appropriating funds for it in annual budget bills.
• O.C.G.A. § 31-2A-72 lets the department accept donations, grants, and gifts and pursue federal or private funding for the program.
• O.C.G.A. § 31-2A-73 requires an annual report on program results to the Governor, legislative leaders, and relevant committees, plus biennial recommendations on the program's future.
• O.C.G.A. § 31-2A-74 directs the department to adopt rules and regulations needed to carry out the program.
• Section 2 sets the effective date as the date the Governor signs the bill or it otherwise becomes law without a signature.

1. 2025-04-04House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-04-02House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-03-31House Hopper (House)

• Park Cannon (D, HD-058)Primary sponsor
• Kim Schofield (D, HD-063)
• Samuel Park (D, HD-107)
• Omari Crawford (D, HD-089)
• Tyler Smith (R, HD-018)

• maternal health
• obstetric care
• rural health care
• public health funding
• health insurance access