Bill Text: AZ HB2230 | 2022 | Fifty-fifth Legislature 2nd Regular | Introduced
Bill Title: Prenatal care; grant program; appropriation
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-01-19 - House read second time [HB2230 Detail]
Download: Arizona-2022-HB2230-Introduced.html
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REFERENCE TITLE: prenatal care; grant program; appropriation |
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State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-fifth Legislature Second Regular Session 2022
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HB 2230 |
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Introduced by Representatives Shah: Kaiser
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AN ACT
Establishing the prenatal care grant program in the department of health services; appropriating monies.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Prenatal care grant program; department of health services; rulemaking exemption; delayed repeal
A. The department of health services shall administer a three-year prenatal care grant program to provide prenatal health care services to pregnant women in a group setting. The goals of the prenatal care grant program are to increase the number of pregnant women who begin prenatal care early in their pregnancies, to reduce health disparities and to improve maternal and infant health outcomes. Grant recipients may receive payments to cover overhead costs related to initiating a group prenatal care program and incentive payments based on patient completion of a group prenatal care program.
B. An entity seeking to participate in the grant program shall apply to the department of health services in a manner prescribed by the department. Participating entities may include any of the following:
1. Medical practices, including those operated by or employing one or more physicians, physician assistants, certified nurse-midwives, certified nurse practitioners or clinical nurse specialists.
2. Health care facilities.
C. To be eligible to participate in the grant program, an entity must demonstrate to the department of health services that it meets all of the following requirements:
1. Has space to host groups of at least twelve pregnant women.
2. Has adequate in-kind resources, including existing medical staff, to provide necessary prenatal health care services on both an individual and group basis.
3. Provides prenatal care using an evidence-based group prenatal care model.
4. Integrates health assessments, education and support into a unified prenatal program in which pregnant women at similar stages of pregnancy meet, learn care skills and participate in group discussions.
5. Meets any other requirements established by the department of health services.
D. When distributing grant monies under the grant program, the department of health services shall prioritize entities that are:
1. Operating in areas of this state with high preterm birth rates.
2. Operating in a county in which access to maternity care is limited or absent.
3. Providing prenatal care to medicaid recipients.
E. A participating entity may employ or contract with licensed dental hygienists to educate pregnant women about the importance of prenatal and postnatal dental care.
F. Notwithstanding any other law, for the purposes of this section, the department of health services is exempt from the rulemaking requirements of title 41, chapter 6, Arizona Revised Statutes, for one year after the effective date of this act.
G. This section is repealed from and after December 31, 2026.
Sec. 2. Appropriation; department of health services; prenatal care grant program; exemption
A. The sum of $3,000,000 is appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2022-2023 to the department of health services to provide prenatal care grants over a three-year period to grant program participants pursuant to this act.
B. The appropriation made in subsection A of this section is exempt from the provisions of section 35-190, Arizona Revised Statutes, relating to lapsing of appropriations, except that any monies remaining unexpended and unencumbered on June 30, 2026 revert to the state general fund.
