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House adopts temporary maternal-care measure to speed Medicaid prenatal coverage
Summary
Lawmakers approved HB89, the Alabama Maternal Healthcare Act, to create presumptive Medicaid eligibility for pregnant women; the bill was amended to sunset in October 2028 to allow a fiscal and outcome review.
The Alabama House passed HB89, labeled the Alabama Maternal Healthcare Act, to give pregnant women presumptive eligibility for Medicaid and expedite prenatal care access. Representative Lance, the bill’s sponsor, said the measure aims to “expedite the process to get women and babies into prenatal care much earlier,” and noted that the bill was amended in committee to include an October 2028 sunset.
Supporters said early prenatal care can identify complications sooner and improve maternal and infant outcomes. Representative Mooney described the bill as “a pro life bill in the sense of getting more babies into the world,” and medical and advocacy speakers in the chamber said the measure could reduce costly neonatal complications. Representative Bose, among others, praised the bipartisan collaboration and urged that the sunset be used to study cost impacts and outcomes.
House members discussed fiscal projections and urged monitoring of the program’s effect on Medicaid spending; Chairman Reynolds offered a two-year sunset amendment to allow time to review cost and health outcomes, which the House adopted on the floor before final passage. The committee substitute and amendment were approved by recorded votes; the BR and final passage both carried by recorded tallies.
Representatives underscored that the bill was developed with input from clinicians, hospitals, and maternal health stakeholders. Members also said the legislation is not a substitute for future targeted programs to address racial disparities in maternal outcomes, which several lawmakers asked be explored in subsequent work.
The House adopted the committee substitute and the sunset amendment and approved final passage; clerk records show the BR adopted and final passage by recorded votes on the House floor.
