North Carolina SB 907: The Ciji Graham Act.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 907

Short Title: The Ciji Graham Act. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Murdock, Applewhite, and Robinson (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
April 30, 2026
*S907-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO IMPROVE MATERNAL HEALTH OUTCOMES AND REDUCE MATERNAL 2
HEALTH DISPARITIES IN NORTH CAROLINA THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT 3
OF A HIGH-RISK PREGNANCY CARE NAVIGATION PROGRAM, A PREGNANCY 4
CONSULTATION HOTLINE, A CENTRALIZED CLINICAL INFORMATION HUB 5
FOR MANAGING HIGH-RISK PREGNANCIES, AND STANDARDIZED REFERRAL 6
PATHWAYS FOR HIGH-RISK PREGNANCIES; AND TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO 7
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DIVISION OF PUBLIC 8
HEALTH, FOR THESE PURPOSES. 9
Whereas, the untimely death of Ciji Graham – a beloved mother, daughter, and friend 10
– highlights the devastating intersection of medical risk, delayed treatment, and restrictive 11
healthcare policies; and 12
Whereas, current policy created an unfortunate situation in which Ciji Graham's 13
serious underlying illness, the hesitancy of physicians due to restrictive laws, and policy-driven 14
delays prevented timely, coordinated care when minutes and days mattered; and 15
Whereas, maternal health outcomes in North Carolina remain a significant public 16
health concern, particularly among Black women and rural populations; and 17
Whereas, there is an urgent need to bolster North Carolina's healthcare system to 18
ensure access to timely and accurate information, resources, and care for high-risk pregnancies; 19
Now, therefore, 20
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 21
22
PART I. TITLE 23
SECTION 1.1. This act shall be known as "The Ciji Graham Act." 24
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PART II. HIGH-RISK PREGNANCY CARE NAVIGATION PROGRAM 26
SECTION 2.1.(a) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department 27
of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, the sum of two million three hundred 28
thousand dollars ($2,300,000) in recurring funds beginning in the 2026-2027 fiscal year to 29
establish a uniform High-Risk Pregnancy Care Navigation Program (the program) in each of the 30
six North Carolina Medicaid managed care regions to support the use of licensed nurses as care 31
navigators to assist individuals experiencing high-risk pregnancies with accessing timely, 32
equitable, and clinically appropriate care. These funds shall be allocated and used as follows: 33
(1) One million three hundred thousand dollars ($1,300,000) to establish 12 34
full-time, permanent Nurse Consultant positions within the Department of 35
Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, to be distributed 36

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 907-First Edition
equally among the six North Carolina Medicaid managed care regions. Each 1
Nurse Consultant position funded by this section shall be dedicated to 2
performing the following duties within the program, either in person or 3
through the use of telehealth services, defined as the use of two-way, real-time 4
interactive audio and video where the nurse consultant and the pregnant 5
patient can hear and see each other: 6
a. Assisting patients in understanding diagnoses associated with 7
high-risk pregnancy conditions. 8
b. Coordinating timely referrals to appropriate providers, including (i) 9
maternal-fetal medicine specialists and high-risk obstetricians, (ii) 10
hospital systems equipped for high-risk labor and delivery, and (iii) 11
providers offering pregnancy termination services, when clinically 12
indicated and consistent with patient choice and State law. 13
c. Providing culturally competent, patient-centered guidance that 14
respects patient autonomy and informed decision making. 15
d. Addressing barriers to care, including transportation, insurance 16
enrollment, appointment scheduling, and continuity of care. 17
(2) One million dollars ($1,000,000) to cover the cost of program administration 18
and to purchase equipment, high-speed internet access, and any other 19
infrastructure necessary to establish telehealth services. The Department of 20
Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, may use up to one 21
percent (1%) of these funds for administrative purposes related to the 22
program. 23
SECTION 2.1.(b) Annually by September 1, beginning September 1, 2028, the 24
Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, shall report to the Joint 25
Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services and the Fiscal Research 26
Division on the establishment and operation of the High-Risk Pregnancy Care Navigation 27
Program authorized and funded by subsection (a) of this section. The report shall include at least 28
all of the following: 29
(1) An itemized list of program expenditures. 30
(2) A description of the care navigation services provided under the program, 31
including the utilization frequency of these services. 32
(3) An evaluation of th