Cal. Health & Safety Code § 123550

The Legislature finds and declares that prenatal care, delivery service, postpartum care and neonatal and infant care are essential services necessary to assure maternal and infant health. These services are not currently distributed so as to meet the minimum maternal and infant health needs of many Californians. A regionalized perinatal health system can provide these essential services; however, many underserved areas lack the staff or expertise to develop these systems.