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Senate passes bill to expand doula coverage; amendment clarifies language
Summary
Senate Bill 319, which revises health-care laws to enable Medicare/Medicaid coverage of doulas and expand certification pathways, passed the Senate after a McGillivray amendment clarifying gendered language; supporters argued the service supports maternal mental health and rural patients, opponents questioned budget priorities.
Senate Bill 319 — legislation to revise health-care laws related to doulas and to authorize Medicaid coverage for doula services — passed the Senate Finance and Claims Committee after an amendment and a roll-call vote.
Senator McGillivray offered a brief amendment that adds language clarifying references to women in the bill’s pregnancy-related language; he said the change was simple and that the bill sponsor did not object. The committee debated whether doula services are an essential Medicaid expenditure; supporters said doulas can reduce the risk of postpartum mental-health crises and provide needed supports in rural areas, while opponents argued the state must prioritize core Medicaid services for vulnerable populations.
Senator Kirk Carpenter said the bill could expand private-sector reimbursement for doula services in addition to Medicaid coverage and that the fiscal impact ultimately would be decided in HB2. Several senators cited concerns about certification and licensing regimes; committee discussion also noted prior tabling in policy committees and outstanding implementation questions.
A roll-call recorded 14 yes and 8 no votes and the committee reported the bill to the floor with a favorable recommendation.
