TO CREATE THE HEALTHY MOMS, HEALTHY BABIES ACT; AND TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW TO IMPROVE MATERNAL HEALTH IN THIS STATE.

SB 213, now Act 140, creates Arkansas' "Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act" to improve maternal health through Medicaid reforms. It requires the Arkansas Medicaid Program to cover specific services separately (not as bundled payments), including prenatal visits, blood pressure monitoring devices with training, remote ultrasounds, and doula/community health worker home visits for prenatal/postpartum care. The law also mandates depression screening for pregnant women and allows immediate enrollment for pregnant applicants while awaiting full processing. These changes directly affect pregnant and postpartum Medicaid enrollees in Arkansas, aiming to expand access to critical health services.