(a) The legislature finds that the perinatal period beginning before conception and continuing through the first year of life poses unique challenges for the health care system. The development of a coordinated, cooperative system of perinatal health care within a geographic area will reduce unnecessary mortality and morbidity for women and infants.
(b) In order to improve the health of women and infants, it is necessary to promote health education, to provide assurance of reasonable access to safe and appropriate perinatal services, and to improve the quality of perinatal care by encouraging optimal use of health care personnel.