AL HB598

Creates the Rural Maternal and Infant Health Equity Act, establishing grant programs through the Alabama Department of Public Health to integrate midwives and doulas into rural hospitals and clinics

Requires Alabama Medicaid (subject to federal approval) and all private insurers to cover midwife and doula services

Establishes the Obstetric Workforce Training and Incentive Program, providing residency support, recruitment incentives, and loan repayment for providers committing to at least two years of rural maternity care service

Funds community-based maternal health partnerships for prenatal home visits, mobile perinatal clinics, and group prenatal care for at-risk populations

Creates the Rural Maternal and Infant Health Equity Program Fund in the State Treasury, funded through legislative appropriations and donations, with an effective date of October 1, 2026