Rural hospitals: standby perinatal medical services.
- Establishes a 5-year pilot program enabling rural hospitals to provide emergency maternity services when over 60 minutes from full service facilities.
- Requires participating hospitals to maintain 24-hour physician coverage and emergency equipment for maternal and infant life support.
- Mandates detailed data collection on safety and outcomes to evaluate the program's effectiveness for rural maternal care.
- Creates new standards for low-volume maternity units to prevent rural hospital closures while ensuring quality care.
Senator McGuire's proposal to establish standby perinatal medical services in rural California hospitals aims to address gaps in maternal healthcare access through a five-year pilot program. The legislation authorizes critical access and small system rural hospitals located more than 60 minutes from full-service maternity facilities to provide emergency obstetric care, provided they meet specific staffing and equipment requirements.
Participating hospitals must maintain 24-hour physician coverage within 30 minutes, ensure operative delivery capabilities including cesarean sections, and employ registered nurses trained in perinatal care and infant resuscitation. The program requires formal arrangements for patient transfers to intensive care nurseries when needed, along with comprehensive policies covering admission procedures, infection control, and emergency protocols aligned with current medical guidelines.
The California Department of Public Health will oversee the pilot, consulting with healthcare stakeholders to develop operational standards and monitoring protocols. Hospitals must collect data on safety outcomes, utilization rates, and demographic information, which the department will evaluate and report to the Legislature within two years of the pilot's completion. The program specifically excludes facilities that have closed maternity units in the past three years, focusing instead on expanding services in areas with limited access to obstetric care.
This bill was recently introduced. Email the authors to let them know what you think about it.
Introduced By
Latest Voting History
 Shannon GroveR Senator | Committee Member |  Not Contacted | |
 Mike McGuireD Senator | Bill Author | Not Contacted | |
 Scott WienerD Senator | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
 Tim GraysonD Senator | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
 Monique LimonD Senator | Committee Member | Not Contacted |
- Establishes a 5-year pilot program enabling rural hospitals to provide emergency maternity services when over 60 minutes from full service facilities.
- Requires participating hospitals to maintain 24-hour physician coverage and emergency equipment for maternal and infant life support.
- Mandates detailed data collection on safety and outcomes to evaluate the program's effectiveness for rural maternal care.
- Creates new standards for low-volume maternity units to prevent rural hospital closures while ensuring quality care.
This bill was recently introduced. Email the authors to let them know what you think about it.
Introduced By
Senator McGuire's proposal to establish standby perinatal medical services in rural California hospitals aims to address gaps in maternal healthcare access through a five-year pilot program. The legislation authorizes critical access and small system rural hospitals located more than 60 minutes from full-service maternity facilities to provide emergency obstetric care, provided they meet specific staffing and equipment requirements.
Participating hospitals must maintain 24-hour physician coverage within 30 minutes, ensure operative delivery capabilities including cesarean sections, and employ registered nurses trained in perinatal care and infant resuscitation. The program requires formal arrangements for patient transfers to intensive care nurseries when needed, along with comprehensive policies covering admission procedures, infection control, and emergency protocols aligned with current medical guidelines.
The California Department of Public Health will oversee the pilot, consulting with healthcare stakeholders to develop operational standards and monitoring protocols. Hospitals must collect data on safety outcomes, utilization rates, and demographic information, which the department will evaluate and report to the Legislature within two years of the pilot's completion. The program specifically excludes facilities that have closed maternity units in the past three years, focusing instead on expanding services in areas with limited access to obstetric care.
Latest Voting History
Shannon GroveR Senator | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
Mike McGuireD Senator | Bill Author | Not Contacted | |
Scott WienerD Senator | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
Tim GraysonD Senator | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
Monique LimonD Senator | Committee Member | Not Contacted |