GROUP PRENATAL CARE SERVICES; REQ. COVERAGE S.B. 414 & 415:

SUMMARY OF BILL

REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

Senate Bills 414 and 415 (as reported without amendment)

Sponsor: Senator Stephanie Chang (S.B. 414)

Senator Ruth Johnson (S.B. 415)

Committee: Health Policy

CONTENT

Senate Bill 414 would amend Chapter 34 (Disability Insurance Policies) of the Insurance Code to require an insurer that delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in Michigan a health insurance policy to provide coverage for group prenatal care services.

Senate Bill 415 would amend the Social Welfare Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services to provide coverage under Medicaid for group prenatal care services beginning on the effective date of the bill.

"Group prenatal care services" would mean a series of prenatal care visits provided in a group setting that are based on an evidence-based model that includes health assessments, social and clinical support, and educational activities in a family-centered environment and peer-to-peer interaction that helps pregnant individuals support one another during their pregnancy and into early childhood.

Proposed MCL 500.3406ss (S.B. 414)

Proposed MCL 400109t (S.B. 415)

BRIEF RATIONALE

Becoming a new mother is a process that requires community and medical support for the health of the mother and baby. According to testimony, group prenatal care services are designed to offer such support, bringing together pregnant individuals to engage in support groups, childbirth classes, and visits with a medical provider. Reportedly, these services have many positive benefits, such as decreasing the rate of pre-term births, gestational diabetes, and postpartum depression. To assist Michigan residents in the process of becoming a mother, the bills' required insurance coverage for group prenatal care services has been suggested.

PREVIOUS LEGISLATION

(This section does not provide a comprehensive account of previous legislative efforts on this subject matter.)

Senate Bills 414 and 415 are respectively reintroductions of Senate Bills 1128 and 1127 of the 2023-2024 Legislative Session. Senate Bills 1128 and 1127 passed the Senate and were referred to the House but received no further action.

Legislative Analyst: Alex Krabill

FISCAL IMPACT

Senate Bill 414

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

Senate Bill 415

There would be no fiscal impact on the State’s Medicaid program and no fiscal impact on local units of government. As of April 1, 2025, Michigan’s Medicaid provider manual allows for coverage for a maximum of 12 total in-person group sessions per pregnant beneficiary in addition to the required individual professional maternity visits. To qualify for Medicaid reimbursement, the group sessions must be in addition to, and not replace, the individual prenatal physical assessment visit, the group sessions must be 90 to 120 minutes, and provider documentation must support the actual time the pregnant individual spent in the group session.

Date Completed: 6-25-25 Fiscal Analysts: Nathan Leaman

John P. Maxwell

SAS\Floors2526\sb414

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.