Research shows that women who do not receive prenatal care are three times more likely to have low birth weight (less than 5 ½ pounds) babies. Some of the reasons why pregnant women delay the needed prenatal care include the inability to afford medical care or health insurance, problems understanding the Medicaid process, or even lack of available medical services.
Cobb & Douglas Public Health offers several programs to help reduce those barriers, increasing the accessibility to prenatal care. We help women get started — early — with the care and guidance needed for a healthy pregnancy.
Prenatal Screening & Referral
- Clients assessed and screened for services to determine how we can best meet their needs during pregnancy
- Referrals for pregnancy testing
- Application assistance for Presumptive Eligibility Pregnancy Medicaid
- Referrals for Babies Born Healthy-BBH (formerly Green Plan) discount prenatal care services
Pregnancy Testing
- Walk-in service
- Cost $20 or sliding fee if Family Planning patient
- Bring proof of income and ID required for Family Planning patients
- Provides medical documentation of pregnancy if test is positive
- Prenatal counseling and referral follow-up pregnancy services
Presumptive Eligibility Pregnancy Medicaid
- This type of Medicaid provides immediate financial assistance for prenatal care. Prenatal women must meet the eligibility criteria based on their citizenship status and income requirement that does not exceed 220% of Federal Poverty Guidelines. This type of Medicaid allows the eligible women to get started with medical care while waiting for final determination of eligibility for full Medicaid coverage by the Department of Family Children Services (DFCS).
Perinatal Case Management
- Must be Medicaid eligible
- Short visit with the nurse who provides counseling and education on pregnancy, resources and referrals to public and community programs such as WIC
- Assist clients with Medicaid problems and concerns
- Physician referrals for medically high-risk clients
- Prescription for Prenatal Vitamins
- WIC and Dental referrals
- Tobacco Counseling and referral
- Children 1st referrals
Babies Born Healthy (BBH) Program
- This prenatal service is for pregnant women who do not have health insurance and are not eligible for Medicaid because of their citizenship status and/or income.
- Clients who are referred to our BBH program are expected to pay a minimal fee for prenatal services.
- CDPH contracts with certain OB doctors within Cobb and Douglas counties to provide prenatal services at a reduced rate.
- BBH services are limited and cover routine prenatal visits and some lab work. The client applies for Emergency Medicaid when she delivers her baby.
Call 770-514-2471 (English) or 770-514-2367 (Spanish) for more information, or come by the Marietta Health Department for prenatal screenings. Bring your proof of pregnancy, if you have one, and your supporting documents.
Success Story
“Rebecca” is a 20-year-old woman who was pregnant with twins. An ultrasound conducted early in her pregnancy revealed that, sadly, one of the babies no longer had a heartbeat. Rebecca was referred to a perinatologist who specializes in working with high-risk pregnant women. The perinatologist followed Rebecca, who also suffered from high blood pressure, throughout her pregnancy. The surviving twin was born prematurely when Rebecca was 36 weeks pregnant. While the baby had a low birth weight (under 5 pounds), Rebecca was overjoyed to take home her surviving baby. Her perinatologist continued to follow her postpartum, and she was referred to Children 1st, whose nurse visited Rebecca and baby for follow-up care and counsel.