Medicaid; providing presumptive eligibility to pregnant women

SB 102 would allow pregnant women in Alabama to receive temporary Medicaid-covered prenatal care for up to 60 days while awaiting final Medicaid approval. It directly affects pregnant women who provide proof of pregnancy and household income to a qualified prenatal care provider but haven't yet been formally approved for Medicaid. The bill establishes a "presumptive eligibility" period: providers can approve coverage based on preliminary information, require the woman to apply for Medicaid within one month, and notify the Medicaid agency within five days. Coverage cannot be retroactively denied if the woman later applies or is denied Medicaid. This policy change implements a federal Medicaid option already available in other states, streamlining access to prenatal care during application processing.