Representative Sharon Cooper Announces Final Passage of House Bill 1114 to Address Maternal Mortality in Georgia

ATLANTA – State Representative Sharon Cooper (R-Marietta), chairman of the House Health & Human Services Committee, today announced that the Georgia House of Representatives gave final passage to House Bill 1114 on Wednesday, June 24, 2020. Through this legislation, Chairman Cooper seeks to fight maternal mortality in Georgia. House Bill 1114 would extend the duration of postpartum Medicaid coverage for new mothers from two months to six months.

“This legislation would allow our state to address maternal mortality with full force by providing vital assistance to mothers who need it the most,” said Rep. Sharon Cooper. “I would like to thank my colleagues in the General Assembly for championing this legislation, and I will remain committed to this work on behalf of all mothers and their babies until we can end this heartbreaking crisis.”

The final version of House Bill 1114 would authorize the Department of Community Health to seek a Section 1115 Medicaid waiver with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to allow Georgia to extend the duration of postpartum Medicaid coverage for new mothers. Included in this legislation is a provision for lactation care and services for expectant and new mothers, as well as children who are nursing. Under the amended version of the bill, this law would become effective only upon the effective date of a specific appropriation of funds by the General Assembly.

“Combatting maternal mortality is part of the House’s continuing efforts to nurture a culture of life throughout our state, and this bill is a major step forward in that work,” said Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge). “I thank Chairman Sharon Cooper for her tireless work to provide better healthcare for new mothers in Georgia. Her leadership on this critical issue has been invaluable.”

House Bill 1114 is co-sponsored by Speaker Pro Tempore Jan Jones (R-Milton), Appropriations Chairman Terry England (R-Auburn), Majority Leader Jon Burns (R-Newington), Human Services Appropriations Chairman Katie Dempsey (R-Rome), and Health Appropriations Chairman Butch Parrish (R-Swainsboro), among others.

Chairman Cooper, along with Rep. Mark Newton (R-Augusta), co-chaired the House Study Committee on Maternal Mortality in 2019. The study committee’s recommendations included extending the duration of postpartum Medicaid coverage.

This bill will now go to Governor Kemp for his consideration.

For more information on House Bill 1114, please click here.

 

Representative Sharon Cooper represents the citizens of District 43, which includes portions of Cobb County. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 1996 and currently serves as Chairman of the Health & Human Services Committee. She also serves on the Judiciary Non-Civil, Regulated Industries and Rules committees.

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