HB884: HB884 Public Health, Department of; establish grant program for perinatal facilities to increase availability of obstetric care in low access maternity care areas and deserts

Many rural and underserved Georgia counties have few or no options for maternity care. This bill would add a new article to Georgia's public health code (O.C.G.A. Title 31, Chapter 2A) directing the Department of Public Health to set up a grant program for perinatal facilities, meaning hospitals, clinics, and birthing centers that provide maternal or newborn care, located in what the bill calls low access to maternity care areas or maternity care deserts. The bill defines those areas by specific measures, such as having only one hospital offering obstetric care, fewer than 60 obstetric providers per 10,000 births, or a high share of uninsured women of reproductive age. Grants could pay for recruiting and keeping obstetric providers, upgrading or building obstetric units, and forming partnerships with larger medical centers. The program depends on the General Assembly actually funding it each year, and the department must report annually on results and make recommendations every two years. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it.

• Creates a new grant program inside the Department of Public Health for perinatal facilities in underserved maternity care areas.
• Defines 'low access to maternity care area' and 'maternity care desert' using specific thresholds like provider counts and insurance rates.
• Allows grant money to be used for recruiting obstetric providers, upgrading facilities, and building partnerships with larger medical centers.
• Makes the entire grant program dependent on the General Assembly appropriating funds for it each year.
• Authorizes 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 or improve the program.

Pregnant patients and families in Georgia counties with few or no maternity care options, hospitals and birth centers seeking grants, obstetric providers such as OB-GYNs, family physicians, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners, and the Department of Public Health, which would run the program.

If funded, the program could help bring obstetric providers and updated facilities to Georgia counties currently lacking maternity care, potentially shortening travel distances for pregnant patients. Because funding is not guaranteed, the actual impact depends on future budget decisions by the General Assembly.

• Section 1 adds a new Article 4 to Chapter 2A of Title 31, defining terms like 'low access to maternity care area,' 'maternity care desert,' and 'obstetric provider' (O.C.G.A. § 31-2A-70).
• O.C.G.A. § 31-2A-71 directs the department to create the grant program, set criteria, and run an application process, but makes it contingent on annual state funding.
• O.C.G.A. § 31-2A-72 lets the department accept private donations, gifts, and pursue federal or philanthropic funding for the program.
• O.C.G.A. § 31-2A-73 requires an annual report to the Governor, legislative leaders, and relevant committees on grant applications, awards, and amounts, plus biennial recommendations.
• 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.

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)
• Carolyn Hugley (D, HD-141)
• Karen Bennett (D, HD-094)
• Tyler Smith (R, HD-018)

• maternal health
• obstetric care
• rural health care
• public health funding
• maternity care deserts