Bill > HB722

This bill enacts the "Georgia Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act" to address the high maternal mortality rate in the state, particularly among women of color. The key provisions are: 1. Requires all perinatal facilities (hospitals, clinics, birthing centers) to implement evidence-based implicit bias training programs for healthcare professionals involved in perinatal care. The training must cover topics like identifying biases, addressing structural barriers, and the impacts of implicit bias on maternal and infant health outcomes. 2. Mandates that healthcare professionals complete initial basic training and then refresher courses every two years (or more frequently if deemed necessary) to stay current on best practices in reducing implicit bias. 3. Directs the Department of Public Health to collect and publish data on severe maternal morbidity and pregnancy-related deaths, disaggregated by race and ethnicity, to help identify disparities and target interventions. The overall goal is to reduce the effects of implicit bias in pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care, so that all patients are treated with dignity and respect regardless of their race, gender, or other personal characteristics.