Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Assembly committee advances bill requiring time-and-distance standards for labor and delivery access
Summary
The Assembly Health Committee voted to send SB 32 to appropriations after testimony that the measure would require state agencies to develop enforceable time and distance standards for perinatal units so health plans cannot claim in‑network OB/GYN access without access to delivery services.
Senators on the Assembly Health Committee voted to move SB 32 to the appropriations committee after supporters and health‑care stakeholders described gaps in timely access to hospital labor and delivery services.
Senator Weber Pearson, the bill’s author, told the committee that “more than 50 hospitals across the state have shut down or suspended their labor and delivery services, creating maternity care deserts,” and that lack of nearby delivery services can force pregnant people to travel long distances and face increased risk of premature births and other complications. The bill would require the Department of Health Care Services, the…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
