Maternal health care access law takes effect today
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
State legislators on both sides of the aisle are celebrating a new law to bolster access to care for pregnant women.
Why it matters: The law aims to have an impact on Alabama's above-average maternal mortality and infant mortality rates.
How it works: Known as "presumptive Medicaid eligibility," it allows Medicaid to pay for outpatient care for up to 60 days while a woman's application for Medicaid is being reviewed, per an announcement from the Medical Association of the State of Alabama.
- The law was introduced in the House by Democratic Huntsville Rep. Marilyn Lands and co-sponsored by Birmingham-area Republican Rep. Susan DuBose.
Driving the news: Supporters say it will help save lives by reducing delays in care, and physicians who spoke at an event Sept. 30 stressed how meaningful it will be for both patients and providers.
What they're saying: "This law removes a major barrier to care," said OB/GYN Dr. Jamie Routman, in a release. "It gives doctors the ability to provide the right care at the right time without waiting weeks or months for paperwork to catch up."