Bill > SB1081

This bill requires the Arizona Department of Health Services to convene a group of stakeholders to address the challenge of providing obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) services in rural communities with low patient volumes but high medical risks. The department will bring together both department staff and external stakeholders to develop recommendations for ensuring these critical medical services remain available in underserved rural areas. The department is mandated to submit a comprehensive report of their recommendations to key state leadership, including the governor, senate president, and house speaker, with a copy also provided to the secretary of state, by December 31, 2026. The provision for this stakeholder group and reporting requirement will automatically expire on December 31, 2027, which represents a sunset clause designed to limit the duration of this specific initiative. The bill appears to be addressing a potential healthcare access issue in rural Arizona, recognizing that smaller communities often struggle to maintain specialized medical services due to economic and staffing challenges.

Health and Social Services

https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/81910