WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 1172

The Ciji Graham Act.

2025-2026 Session Introduced by Eric Ager and 22 co-sponsors

Establishes a statewide, coordinated system of high-risk pregnancy navigation, 24/7/5 hotline support, centralized clinical information, and standardized referrals to improve timel

Passed 1st Reading
#appropriations;budgeting;data&recordssystems;dhhs;healthservices;informationtechnology;infrastructure;pregnancy;public;publichealth;telecommunications;telephones;teleservices;women;records;namedlaws;familyissues
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 1172

Summary of HB 1172 — The Ciji Graham Act (North Carolina, 2025 Session)

This summary highlights the bill’s purpose, key provisions, who is affected, and notable procedural/timeline details. It is designed to be clear for both experts and general readers.

Purpose and Intent

  • Establishes a comprehensive framework to improve maternal health outcomes and reduce disparities in North Carolina.
  • Aims to address delays in care and fragmented information that can worsen outcomes for high-risk pregnancies.
  • Named in response to the death of Ciji Graham, emphasizing timely, coordinated care and patient-centered decision making.

Major Provisions

Part II — High-Risk Pregnancy Care Navigation Program

  • Funding: $2,300,000 in recurring General Fund dollars starting in FY 2026-2027.
  • Geographic scope: Implemented in each of the six North Carolina Medicaid managed care regions.
  • Staffing: Allocates $1,300,000 to create 12 full-time Nurse Consultant positions within the DHHS, Division of Public Health. Responsibilities include:
    • Explaining diagnoses related to high-risk pregnancies.
    • Coordinating timely referrals to:
    • Maternal-fetal medicine specialists and high-risk obstetricians.
    • Hospital systems equipped for high-risk labor and delivery.
    • Providers offering pregnancy termination services when clinically indicated and allowed by law.
    • Providing culturally competent, patient-centered guidance.
    • Addressing barriers to care (transportation, insurance enrollment, scheduling, continuity of care).
  • Administration/Infrastructure: $1,000,000 for program administration, equipment, telehealth infrastructure (high-speed internet, etc.). Up to 1% of these funds may be used for administrative expenses.

Part II — Reporting Requirement

  • Timeline: Annual reporting due September 1, starting 2028.
  • Contents:
    • Itemized program expenditures.
    • Description of navigation services and utilization frequency.
    • Timeliness and impact of referrals on access to care.
    • Effects on maternal and infant health outcomes for high-risk pregnancies.
    • Obstacles and recommendations for program improvement.

Part III — Pregnancy Consultation Hotline

  • Funding: $7,700,000 in recurring General Fund dollars starting FY 2026-2027.
  • Scope: Statewide nurse/clinician consultation hotline for providers serving pregnant patients and community organizations.
  • Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
  • Capabilities:
    • Real-time clinical guidance from qualified specialists (including maternal-fetal medicine).
    • Case-specific clinical guidance and urgent decision support.
    • Referrals to:
    • Pregnancy Medical Home Program.
    • Maternal health services.
    • Nutritional programs (WIC, Food and Nutrition Services).
    • Community-based organizations.
  • Data and Reporting: By Sept 1, 2027 and Sept 1, 2028, the DHHS must report:
    • Number of consultations in the prior year.
    • Geographic regions utilizing the hotline.
    • Percentage of consultations resulting in referrals to MFM specialists.
    • Estimated number of avoided ER visits due to hotline services.
    • Additional relevant operational information.

Part IV — Centralized Clinical Information Hub

  • Requirement: DHHS to develop and maintain an evidence-based digital hub for clinicians managing high-risk pregnancies.
  • Contents of the hub:
    • Up-to-date clinical guidelines for high-risk pregnancy management.
    • A real-time, regionally organized directory of:
    • MFM specialists and high-risk obstetric providers.
    • Facilities equipped for complex pregnancy care.
    • Abortion care providers (where permitted by state law).
    • Standardized referral protocols for timely care transitions.
    • Decision-support tools for counseling and referrals in complex or life-threatening situations.

Part V — Standardized Referral Pathways

  • Task: DHHS, with stakeholder input, to establish uniform referral pathways for high-risk pregnancies.
  • Options under pathways:
    1. For continuing pregnancy: immediate referral to appropriate high-risk obstetric/MFM care.
    2. For those choosing termination or when termination is medically indicated: timely referral to qualified termination providers to the extent permitted by state law.

Affected Entities and Stakeholders

  • Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Public Health.
  • Healthcare providers serving pregnant patients, particularly:
    • Maternal-fetal medicine specialists.
    • High-risk obstetric providers.
    • General clinicians who manage high-risk pregnancies.
  • Pregnant patients, especially in high-risk categories.
  • Medicaid managed care regions (six regional structure in NC).
  • Community-based organizations supporting pregnant populations.
  • Hospitals and facilities equipped for high-risk labor and delivery.
  • Providers of abortion care services (where legal and permitted by state law).

Effective Date

  • The act is effective July 1, 2026.

Summary of Impact

  • Centralizes and streamlines care for high-risk pregnancies via navigators, a statewide consultation hotline, and a centralized information hub.
  • Aims to reduce delays in referrals, improve access to maternal-fetal medicine and related services, and address social determinants of health (transportation, insurance, scheduling).
  • Creates standardized referral pathways and a transparent reporting framework to monitor program performance and maternal/infant health outcomes.
  • Enhances clinician support through real-time guidance and decision-support tools.

If you’d like, I can provide a side-by-side comparison with current NC maternal health programs or a checklist for stakeholders to prepare for implementation.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.