LANSING, MI (WTVB) – State Rep. Jennifer Wortz of Quincy this week announced a bipartisan plan to support group prenatal care, an innovative service that allows pregnant moms to bond and support each other while receiving quality health care.
House Bills 4703 and 4704 would require Michigan’s Medicaid program and private health insurers to cover group prenatal care. In group prenatal care, pregnant women or expecting couples can participate in prenatal care sessions together. The group care option provides essential health care, while enabling moms and dads to get to know each other and build a support network that can continue after their babies are born. Because sessions typically last over an hour, pregnant moms have more time to engage with their health care providers than they would at individual appointments.
Studies have shown that group prenatal care can improve health outcomes for pregnant women and their babies. The group appointments can also be more cost-effective for insurers than individual appointments.
In addition to Wortz’s legislation, a Republican and a Democrat in the Senate introduced a matching pair of bills earlier this month.
A previous plan to provide medical coverage for group prenatal care passed the Senate late last year with overwhelming bipartisan support but did not have time to make it through the House and to the governor’s desk.
HBs 4703 and 4704 were referred to the Committee on Insurance.
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