HB 149: Healthy Mothers Now Act; enact

Some Georgia counties have very few hospitals, birth centers, or obstetric providers, making it hard for new mothers to get care after giving birth. House Bill 149, called the Healthy Mothers Now Act, directs the Department of Public Health to run a three-year pilot program using mobile health clinics to deliver postpartum care in these underserved counties. The bill defines 'limited maternity care counties' (fewer than two hospitals or birth centers with obstetric care, or fewer than 60 obstetric providers per 10,000 births) and 'maternity care deserts' (no hospital, birth center, or obstetric provider at all). Postpartum care under the bill covers a full year after birth, miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal death, with at least four required visits at specific intervals. The department must report annually to state leaders on the program's progress, and the whole section only takes effect if the General Assembly specifically funds it, automatically expiring June 30, 2029.

• Creates a new Georgia Code section directing the Department of Public Health to run a three-year mobile health clinic pilot program for postpartum care.
• Targets the program at 'limited maternity care counties' and 'maternity care deserts', defined by the number of hospitals, birth centers, and obstetric providers available.
• Requires postpartum care to include at least four obstetric visits over the year following a birth, miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal death, at defined time intervals.
• Requires the department to submit annual written reports on the program's implementation and effectiveness, with a final report recommending statewide expansion.
• Makes the entire program contingent on the General Assembly appropriating specific funding, and sets automatic repeal of the law on June 30, 2029.

Pregnant and postpartum women in Georgia counties with few or no obstetric providers, the Department of Public Health, which must run and report on the program, and obstetric providers such as physicians and advanced practice registered nurses who deliver the mobile care.

Women in counties without nearby hospitals or obstetric providers would gain access to postpartum checkups, mental health evaluations, and newborn care guidance they might otherwise miss. Whether this happens depends entirely on lawmakers approving specific funding, since the program only takes effect if money is appropriated.

• Section 2 adds new Code Section 31-2A-21 defining 'limited maternity care county,' 'maternity care desert,' 'obstetric provider,' and 'postpartum care.'
• Subsection (b) directs the Department of Public Health to run a three-year pilot program delivering postpartum care via mobile health clinics in underserved counties.
• Subsection (c) requires annual reports starting no later than June 30, 2026 to the Governor, House Speaker, Senate President, and relevant health committees, with a final report on statewide expansion.
• Subsection (d) makes the program contingent on specific legislative appropriations and sets automatic repeal on June 30, 2029.
• Section 3 states the Act takes effect upon the Governor's approval or upon becoming law without approval.

1. 2025-01-30House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-01-29House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-01-28House Hopper (House)

• Imani Barnes (D, HD-086)Primary sponsor
• Carolyn Hugley (D, HD-141)
• Mary Oliver (D, HD-084)
• Michelle Au (D, HD-050)
• Debbie Buckner (D, HD-137)
• Kimberly Alexander (D, HD-066)

• maternal health
• postpartum care
• rural health care
• mobile health clinics
• public health funding