Committee signals support for doula certification bill, flags fees and terminology

A subcommittee of the Government Operations & Military Affairs committee informally endorsed language for a voluntary doula certification intended to allow doulas to seek Medicaid reimbursement, while raising questions about registration fees and the proposed title "community based perinatal doula." The group asked that the bill be forwarded to the House Health committee for further consideration.

The measure would create an optional certification or registration track for doulas who wish to bill Medicaid. A practicing doula who spoke at the meeting said the profession is "not a very lucrative line of work to begin with," and argued scholarships or employer-supported programs could offset any registration costs: "...the Doula Association hopes to offer scholarships, so that it can cover the cost of that." (Practicing…