Senate Approves Major Investment in Improved Maternal Health Care
LITTLE ROCK – The Senate approved legislation to improve maternal health care in Arkansas, especially in areas where existing medical services are lacking.
Also, a bill to provide a free breakfast every day to all students continued to breeze through the legislature and should soon be sent to the governor for her signature. It is part of her legislative agenda.
Senate Bill 213, known as the “Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act,” changes Medicaid regulations to make prenatal care much more accessible in areas of the state that have been designated as maternal care deserts, because of a lack of obstetricians.
It establishes presumptive eligibility for pregnant women who apply for Medicaid. This allows them to get immediate prenatal care, while they’re waiting for a full application to be processed.
Also, SB 213 authorizes Medicaid to reimburse doulas and community health workers, including for visits to the pregnant woman’s home if the visit is related to prenatal or postpartum care.
Medicaid coverage will include office visits, laboratory fees, tests ordered by a physician, blood work, remote monitoring, fetal nonstress tests and glucose monitoring to detect possible gestational diabetes. Self measurement blood pressure devices will be covered also.
The House passed an identical bill. Improving maternal health care is part of the governor’s legislative agenda.
The Senate also approved a package of bills intended to prevent deceptive practices when canvassers collect signatures from registered voters, in order to place an issue on the ballot.
SB 207 would require canvassers to inform people, before collecting their signatures, that petition fraud is a Class A misdemeanor. The disclosure could be verbal, or in a separate written document that would be shown to people before they sign.
SB 208 would require canvassers to view a photo ID of each person signing the petition. If canvassers are unable to verify someone’s identity, they may not collect a signature.
SB 209 directs the Secretary of State to not count signatures on a petition if a preponderance of evidence indicates that the canvasser has violated state laws or provisions in the state Constitution regarding canvassing, perjury, forgery or fraudulent practices in getting signatures.
SB 210 would require people to read the ballot title of a ballot issue before signing the petition. The ballot title is a summary of all the provisions in the proposed constitutional amendment or initiated act. The bill allows for the ballot title to be read to the person signing, in the presence of the canvasser.
SB 211 would require canvassers to submit a sworn statement that he or she has complied with all state laws governing the collection of signatures, and with the Constitution. Unless the canvasser submits the sworn statement, any signatures he or she turns in will not be counted by the Secretary of State.
SB 59 would provide a free breakfast to all public school students, regardless of their family income, beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. It has been passed by the Senate and cleared a Senate committee.