AN ACT CONCERNING MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH CARE.

HB 7102 aims to improve maternal and infant health by increasing access to birth centers and hospitals in underserved areas with high Medicaid use. It requires the Health Commissioner to develop a strategic plan identifying barriers to opening such facilities, proposing state incentives, and reporting by January 2027. The bill also creates a new council of state agency leaders to coordinate services supporting fathers’ involvement in maternal health, including grant programs for low-income fathers focused on parenting skills, financial literacy, and family stability. This directly affects Medicaid recipients in underserved communities and low-income fathers through expanded support services.