Senate Bill 1238 mandates the Arizona Department of Health Services (DHS) to gather stakeholders and staff to create recommendations aimed at improving the availability of obstetrics and gynecology services in rural communities with low patient volumes but high risks. The DHS must submit a report detailing these recommendations to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by December 31, 2025. The bill also sets a repeal date for these requirements as July 1, 2026, and is effective from the general effective date.

The bill represents a change from the current law by focusing on improving the ability to provide these critical health services in targeted rural areas, rather than ensuring their provision. It also introduces a specific deadline for the DHS to report its findings and recommendations, and establishes a sunset clause for the reporting requirement.