Bill > HB432

This bill establishes the Maternal Care Access Program within the Pennsylvania Department of Health to improve maternal healthcare access in underserved areas. The program aims to identify counties that need increased access to maternal healthcare providers by using a comprehensive assessment methodology that considers multiple factors such as the ratio of childbearing-age women to healthcare providers, social vulnerability, travel distance to healthcare facilities, maternal mortality rates, healthcare provider diversity, and economic indicators. The bill divides the state into six regions and creates a detailed scoring system to designate counties as either "at-risk" or "maternity care desert" based on these criteria. Resources will be distributed exclusively to birth centers, obstetrician gynecologists, certified nurse midwives, county health departments, and hospitals providing obstetric care in designated zones. The program will help address healthcare disparities by focusing on areas with limited maternal health resources, considering factors like healthcare provider availability, socioeconomic challenges, and potential barriers to accessing quality maternal care. The act will take effect 180 days after its passage, allowing time for the Department of Health to develop implementation regulations and establish the necessary infrastructure for the program.

Education

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=432