Senate committee reviews bill to certify community-based perinatal doulas, link certification to Medicaid coverage

The Senate Appropriations Committee reviewed Senate Bill 53 on March 19, a measure to create a voluntary certification program for community-based perinatal doulas and to allow Medicaid reimbursement for services provided by certified doulas, committee staff and sponsors said.

Jen Carter, counsel with the Office of Legislative Council, told the committee the bill "is creating a voluntary certification process," and that certification would be limited to community-based perinatal doulas — defined in the bill as individuals providing nonclinical emotional, physical and informational support to birthing people during pregnancy, childbirth and up to one year postpartum. Carter said certification would be required only for doulas who seek Medicaid reimbursement.

The bill would direct the Office of Professional Regulation (OPR) to establish and administer the voluntary certification program. An amendment from the Senate Health and Welfare Committee proposed a one-time $25,000 appropriation from the general fund to OPR to cover start-up…