HB 884: 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 Georgia counties have limited or no obstetric care, meaning few or no hospitals, birth centers, or obstetric providers to handle pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum care. This bill sets up a new grant program inside the Department of Public Health for perinatal facilities (hospitals, clinics, and birthing centers) located in these 'low access to maternity care areas' and 'maternity care deserts.' Facilities could use the grants to recruit and retain obstetric providers, upgrade or build obstetric units and buy related equipment, or partner with larger medical centers for training and support. The department would set the application rules and grant criteria, and could also accept private donations and pursue federal funding to support the program. The grant program only runs if the General Assembly actually funds it in the state budget each year. The department must report yearly to state leaders on how the program is working and make recommendations every two years on whether to continue or change it. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it.

• Creates a new grant program at the Department of Public Health for perinatal facilities in counties with limited or no obstetric care.
• Defines 'low access to maternity care area' and 'maternity care desert' based on measures like hospital availability, provider ratios, and uninsured rates among reproductive-aged women.
• Allows grant money to be used for recruiting obstetric providers, upgrading or building obstetric units, buying equipment, and forming training partnerships with larger medical centers.
• Makes the grant program dependent on the General Assembly actually appropriating (setting aside) funding each year.
• Lets the department accept donations and pursue federal or private funding to support the program.
• Requires the department to file an annual report on grant outcomes and biennial recommendations on the program's future.

Rural and underserved county residents seeking maternity care, hospitals, birth centers, and clinics that provide obstetric services, obstetric providers such as OB-GYNs, family physicians who deliver babies, certified nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners, and the Department of Public Health, which would run the grant program.

Counties with few or no obstetric providers often mean longer travel times and less access to prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care. This bill offers a funding pathway for local facilities to hire providers and expand services, though the program only works if lawmakers actually budget money for it.

• 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% or more uninsured reproductive-aged women) and 'maternity care desert' (no hospitals, birth centers, or obstetric providers).
• O.C.G.A. § 31-2A-71 establishes the grant program for provider recruitment/retention, facility upgrades and equipment, and partnerships with larger medical centers, with the department setting application criteria.
• Subsection (c) of § 31-2A-71 makes the entire grant program contingent on annual state appropriations by the General Assembly.
• O.C.G.A. § 31-2A-72 authorizes the department to accept donations and pursue federal or private funding for the program.
• O.C.G.A. § 31-2A-73 requires an annual report to the Governor and legislative leaders on grant applications, awards, and funding amounts, plus biennial recommendations on the program.
• O.C.G.A. § 31-2A-74 directs the department to adopt rules and regulations needed to carry out the program.
• Section 2 makes the law effective immediately upon the Governor's signature or becoming law without 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-58)Primary sponsor
• Kim Schofield (D, HD-63)
• Carolyn Hugley (D, HD-141)
• Karen Bennett (D, HD-94)
• Tyler Paul Smith (R, HD-18)

• maternal health
• rural health care
• obstetric care
• public health funding
• hospital grants