§ 49-4-159. Medicaid Coverage for Lactation and Postpartum Care

1. The department shall provide Medicaid coverage for:
   1. Lactation care and services, as defined in paragraph (5) of Code Section 43-22A-3, to pregnant and lactating women and to children who are breastfeeding or receiving their mother’s milk; and
   2. Postpartum care for mothers for a period of one year following the date the pregnancy ends.
2. If necessary to implement the provisions of this Code section, the department shall submit a Medicaid state plan amendment or waiver request to the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

History. Code 1981, § 49-4-159 , enacted by Ga. L. 2020, p. 224, § 1/HB 1114; Ga. L. 2022, p. 759, § 1/SB 338.

Effective date. —

This Code section became effective July 16, 2020.

The 2022 amendment, effective July 1, 2022, in paragraph (a)(2), substituted “one year” for “six months”, and “pregnancy ends” for “woman gives birth” at the end.

Cross references.

Newborn Baby and Mother Protection Act, § 33-24-58.2 .

Lactation Consultant Practice, § 43-22A-1 et seq.

Editor’s notes.

Ga. L. 2020, p. 224, § 2/HB 1114, not codified by the General Assembly, provided that the enactment of this Code section was contingent upon a specific appropriation of funds for purposes of this Act. Funding was appropriated in 2020.