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CS/HB 1381 — Maternal Health Outcomes
by Professions and Public Health Subcommittee and Rep. Brown and others (CS/SB 1540 by Health Policy Committee and Senator Gibson)
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Health Policy Committee (HP)
The bill authorizes Closing the Gap grants to be awarded to projects that aim to decrease racial and ethnic disparities in severe maternal morbidity rates and other maternal health outcomes. The bill requires the Department of Health (DOH) to coordinate with existing community-based maternal health programs.
The bill creates telehealth minority maternity care pilot programs in Duval and Orange counties to use telehealth to expand capacity for positive maternal health outcomes in racial and ethnic minority populations. The bill provides detailed requirements for the pilot programs, including specifying services that the programs must provide, or coordinate with prenatal home visiting services to provide to eligible pregnant women. The bill authorizes the DOH to adopt rules to implement the pilot programs.
The bill requires the DOH to use funds appropriated by the Legislature for the Closing the Gap grant program to fund the pilot programs. The bill also requires the DOH’s Division of Community Health Promotion and its Office of Minority Health and Health Equity to work together to apply for available federal funds to assist in the implementation of the bill.
If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect July 1, 2021.
Vote: Senate 40-0; House 117-0