SB213

The 'Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act' aims to improve maternal health outcomes in Arkansas by expanding Medicaid coverage and accessibility. The bill mandates that the Arkansas Medicaid Program provide reimbursement for depression screenings, self-measurement blood pressure monitoring, and remote ultrasound procedures for pregnant and postpartum women. It changes the payment structure for maternity services from a global or all-inclusive model to a fee-for-service model for individual prenatal, delivery, and postpartum services. Furthermore, the bill establishes presumptive eligibility for pregnant women to ensure immediate access to prenatal care while their full Medicaid applications are being processed. It also requires the state to provide Medicaid reimbursement for home visitation services performed by doulas and community health workers. Finally, the bill modifies the statute of limitations for medical injury claims occurring during childbirth, setting a deadline of the minor's fifth birthday for such legal actions.