Panel advances bill to ensure no cost‑sharing for prenatal visits under health plans

The House Health & Human Services Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 25-118, which would require health plans regulated by the state to cover prenatal visits without patient cost sharing.

Sponsor Representative Jackson said the change aligns state rules with preventive care principles under the Affordable Care Act and would reduce financial barriers that can delay or prevent early, consistent prenatal care. Supporters described cost barriers as particularly acute for low‑income families, people of color and rural residents and cited research linking timely prenatal care with better birth outcomes and lower long‑term healthcare costs.

Committee discussion focused on plan impacts and whether insurers had been consulted; sponsors said state‑regulated carriers had taken a neutral position and that the bill would not apply to federal plans such as Medicaid, which already cover prenatal services. The committee moved the bill to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation; a subsequent roll call recorded an 11‑1 favorable margin with one member excused.

Why it matters: Supporters framed the bill as a targeted preventive measure to reduce maternal morbidity and inequities by removing up‑front cost barriers to recommended prenatal care.

What’s next: The bill goes to the Committee of the Whole for consideration on the House floor.