Georgia CommonsHB 149: Healthy Mothers Now Act; enact
Introduced version, the latest LegiScan holds · Last action January 30, 2025 · Introduced
The text as LegiScan holds it, read from the PDF the legislature publishes with its margin line numbers, running heads, and page footers removed. Line breaks are joined into paragraphs here; no word is changed.
Underlined words are what the bill adds to current law and struck-through words are what it removes, as the printed bill shows them.
House Bill 149
By: Representatives Barnes of the 86th, Hugley of the 141st, Oliver of the 84th, Au of the 50th, Buckner of the 137th, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 2A of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Public Health, so as to provide for a three-year pilot program for a mobile health clinic to provide postpartum care in certain counties; to provide for definitions; to provide for reports; to provide for contingent effectiveness and automatic repeal; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Healthy Mothers Now Act."
SECTION 2.
Chapter 2A of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Public Health, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:
"31-2A-21.
(a) For purposes of this Code section, the term:
(1) 'Limited maternity care county' means a county in this state that has fewer than two hospitals or birth centers offering obstetric care or fewer than 60 obstetric providers per 10,000 births.
(2) 'Maternity care desert' means a county in this state that does not have a hospital or birth center offering obstetric care or an obstetric provider.
(3) 'Obstetric provider' means a licensed physician or licensed advanced practice registered nurse who practices in obstetrics and gynecology.
(4) 'Postpartum care' means healthcare for a woman for a period of one year following a birth, miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal death. Such term includes physiological assessments, mental health evaluations, nutritional evaluations, and guidance on personal and newborn care. Such term includes at least four visits with an obstetric provider as follows:
(A) An initial visit within 24 hours of a birth, miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal death;
(B) A follow-up visit within the first three weeks postpartum;
(C) A follow-up visit within the first eight weeks postpartum;
(D) A comprehensive visit no later than 12 weeks postpartum; and
(E) Intermediary and ongoing care as needed.
(b) The department shall conduct a three-year pilot program for the purpose of providing postpartum care through mobile health clinics in limited maternity care counties and maternity care deserts.
(c) No later than June 30, 2026, and annually for the duration of the pilot program, the department shall submit a detailed written report on the implementation and effectiveness of the pilot program to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, and the chairpersons of the House Committee on Public Health and the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. The final report shall include recommendations as to expansion of the pilot program state wide and changes to state law or policy relative to such recommendations.
(d) This Code section shall be contingent upon appropriations made by the General Assembly specifically for the department for such purposes and shall stand repealed by operation of law on June 30, 2029."
SECTION 3.
This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law without such approval.
SECTION 4.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.