S-1024.2
SENATE BILL 5642
State of Washington
69th Legislature
2025 Regular Session
By Senators Torres, Dozier, and Hasegawa
Read first time 02/03/25. Referred to Committee on Health & Long-Term Care.
AN ACT Relating to improving performance on maternal health and preventative cancer screening metrics for medicaid clients; adding a new section to chapter 74.09 RCW; and creating new sections.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that:
(a) To optimize the health of women and infants, it is important to improve the continuum of care from encouraging a healthy pregnancy to having a healthy birth and receiving postpartum care. Prenatal care can help prevent and address health problems for both women and their infants. It is most effective when it starts early and can be continued through the entire pregnancy. It is also recognized that interventions to increase access to health care can help more women get the prenatal care they need. After the birth, it is also important that postpartum care is an ongoing process with services and supports that women receive specific to their individual needs so that they can recover from birth and nurture their infants. The time following birth is a critical period for a woman and her infant, and it sets the stage for long-term health and well-being;