HB 2230 Summary

• Establishes a three-year prenatal care grant program administered by the Department of Health Services to provide group prenatal care services to pregnant women, with goals of increasing early prenatal care access, reducing health disparities, and improving maternal and infant health outcomes.

• Eligible entities include medical practices with physicians, physician assistants, certified nurse-midwives, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and health care facilities that meet requirements including having space for groups of at least 12 pregnant women and using evidence-based group prenatal care models.

• Department shall prioritize grant distribution to entities in areas with high preterm birth rates, counties with limited maternity care access, and those serving Medicaid recipients.

• Appropriates $3,000,000 from the state general fund in fiscal year 2022-2023 for prenatal care grants, with unexpended funds reverting to the general fund on June 30, 2026.

• Program is subject to a delayed repeal effective December 31, 2026, and the Department is exempt from standard rulemaking requirements for one year after the bill's effective date.