§ 20-8-1001 — Life Choices Lifeline Program

(a) The Department of Health and the Department of Human Services may implement the Life Choices Lifeline Program as a statewide care program to provide direct services, support, social services case management, and referrals to individuals listed in subsection (f) of this section. (b) The Life Choices Lifeline Program shall: (1) Encourage healthy childbirth; (2) Support childbirth as an alternative to abortion; (3) Promote family formation; (4) Aid successful parenting; and (5) Increase families' economic self-sufficiency. (c) Funding provided for services of the Life Choices Lifeline Program shall be used for nonsectarian purposes only. (d) The Life Choices Lifeline Program shall consist of at least the following components: (1) Direct-to-participant marketing within the state; (2) The use of licensed nurses, community health workers, or other individuals of equivalent experience to offer healthy pregnancy program services to participants in the Life Choices Lifeline Program, including: (A) An assessment and evaluation of needs related to pregnancy or parenting; (B) Medically accurate pregnancy-related medical information; (C) Assistance obtaining obstetric care, primary care, mental health or behavioral health counseling, or postpartum care; and (D) Assistance for Life Choices Lifeline Program participants in obtaining medical and mental health care; (3) The use of licensed social workers, nurses, community health workers, licensed professional counselors, or other individuals of equivalent experience to offer care plan coordination services to participants in the Life Choices Lifeline Program, including: (A) Development of a care plan of resources and support to address the needs identified; (B) Referrals to appropriate local resources, including state and federal benefits programs and local charitable organizations; (C) Assistance in applying for state and federal benefits programs; (D) Assistance in accomplishing elements of the care plan; (E) Services related to postpartum depression and related referrals; (F) Assistance obtaining pediatric care and postpartum care; and (G) Assistance obtaining substance abuse treatment and alcohol abuse treatment; and (4) Administrative support and expenses directly attributable to the development of or ongoing support of healthy pregnancy program services and care plan coordination services of the Life Choices Lifeline Program. (e) (1) The Life Choices Lifeline Program shall be available to residents of all counties of the state, including residents in rural areas that may currently lack access to healthy pregnancy program services and care plan coordination services. (2) Healthy pregnancy program services and care plan coordination services of the Life Choices Lifeline Program may be provided, as appropriate, in person through existing facilities or remotely through a telephonic system or other comparable technological system. (3) An individual who offers Life Choices Lifeline Program services shall not refer a woman to an abortion provider, recommend abortion, or take any other action that directly or indirectly advises a woman to obtain or assists a woman in obtaining an abortion. (f) To be eligible to receive services under the Life Choices Lifeline Program, an individual shall at the time of initial contact with the Life Choices Lifeline Program be: (1) A resident of this state who is the biological parent of an unborn child or a biological or adoptive parent of a child under two (2) years of age; (2) A pregnant woman seeking to obtain an abortion in this state; or (3) A parent or legal guardian of a pregnant minor residing in this state. (g) Existing participants of the Life Choices Lifeline Program whose pregnancy is terminated before birth are eligible to continue to receive services of the Life Choices Lifeline Program for six (6) months after the date of termination.

Legislative History

Amended by Act 2023, No. 703,§ 2, eff. 8/1/2023. Amended by Act 2023, No. 703,§ 1, eff. 8/1/2023. Amended by Act 2021, No. 90,§ 2, eff. 7/28/2021. Amended by Act 2021, No. 90,§ 1, eff. 7/28/2021. Added by Act 2019, No. 1036,§ 1, eff. 7/24/2019.