LANSING, Mich. — More pregnant women will be able to receive prenatal care in a group-based setting under legislation recently signed by the governor.
Senate Bill 415, now Public Act 37 of 2026, was sponsored by Sen. Ruth Johnson to require Medicaid to provide coverage for group-based pregnancy support programs such as the childbirth classes offered through CenteringPregnancy programs.
“The goal of this legislation is to help improve outcomes by ensuring Michigan mothers have access to the supportive care they need, and I thank the governor for signing it into law,” said Johnson, R-Holly. “CenteringPregnancy has a remarkable record of reducing preterm births by 33% to 47% and of reducing neonatal intensive care admissions by 37%.”
CenteringPregnancy programs combine prenatal care with childbirth classes, bringing together eight to 10 people who are due around the same time for 10 prenatal visits and at least one postpartum visit, each lasting from 90 minutes to two hours. During the visits, attendees engage in group discussions on everything from stress management to breastfeeding to infant care, followed by one-on-one time with their provider.
“This program can be especially beneficial for first-time moms, and this new law will give them access to this option,” Johnson said. “Group-based CenteringPregnancy visits can provide an extra layer of support from other women who are also about to give birth and improve the knowledge and emotional well-being of expectant mothers.”
Johnson thanked Sen. Michael Webber, R-Rochester Hills, and Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit, for their work in ushering the bill through the Legislature.
“This was a team effort, and this reform wouldn’t have been possible without the help of Senator Webber and Senator Chang,” Johnson said.
From lowering rates of gestational diabetes to improving the detection and treatment of postpartum depression and reducing preterm births, these programs are linked to a wide range of benefits for pregnant women and babies. According to the Centering Healthcare Institute, CenteringPregnancy programs have been shown to nearly eliminate racial disparities in preterm birth, and better health outcomes also save insurers and the state money in the long run. A reduction in preterm births alone could save the U.S. healthcare system $8 billion a year.
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