SB180 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jimmy Holley

Republican

Co-Sponsor

Linda Coleman-Madison

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Maternal and infant health care, Maternal and Infant Health Board, established, membership and duties, to provide for health clinics to serve pregnant women, newborns, infants, and young mothers

Summary

SB180 would create the Maternal and Infant Health Board to expand and coordinate maternal and infant health care in Alabama’s Black Belt through clinics, home visits, telehealth, and provider support.

What This Bill Does

It creates the Maternal and Infant Health Board to reduce maternal and infant mortality and improve outcomes for pregnant women, newborns, infants, and new mothers in the Black Belt. The board will oversee community health clinics with birthing centers in underserved counties, mobile health clinics, and a home visitation program offering prenatal to perinatal care, along with telehealth services. It also supports greater use of advanced practice nurses and can award grants and tuition reimbursement to health care professionals working in these programs. The bill provides immunity protections for health care professionals in certain situations.

Who It Affects

• Pregnant women, newborns, infants, and young mothers in underserved Black Belt counties, who would gain access to birthing centers, comprehensive prenatal-to-perinatal care, home visits, and telehealth.
• Advanced practice nurses, licensed nurses, and other health care professionals who could receive grants and tuition reimbursement and may work in community or mobile clinics, with expanded practice authority in these settings.

Key Provisions

• Establishes the Maternal and Infant Health Board with specified members (Chief Medical Officers from UAB Health System, University of South Alabama Health, and Huntsville Hospital).
• Board duties include meeting at least four times a year, allowing remote participation, and employing a director who runs the board and keeps records/minutes.
• Creates a comprehensive program delivering prenatal-to-perinatal maternal and infant health care in underserved areas, including community health clinics with birthing centers, mobile clinics, home visitation, telehealth, and a specialized advanced practice nurse program with a focus on holistic care.
• Allows licensed nurses and advanced practice nurses to staff clinics and birthing facilities, and certifies existing clinics to participate in the program.
• Develops home visitation standards and training for professionals and lay workers to provide prenatal and postnatal care, with face-to-face visits.
• Authorizes tuition reimbursement and grants for advanced practice nurses and other health professionals, with eligibility rules and funding considerations based on need and location.
• Establishes immunity provisions for health care professionals in certain circumstances.
• Authorizes the board to develop practice standards, telehealth criteria, and cooperation with licensing boards; implements home visitation standards and MOUs as needed.
• Effective date: becomes law on the first day of the third month after approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Health Care