Committee hears testimony on S.53 to certify community‑based perinatal doulas and add Medicaid reimbursement

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee heard testimony on S.53, a bill that would create a new certification for community‑based perinatal doulas and require the Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA) to reimburse certified doulas for perinatal support services to Medicaid beneficiaries.

The Office of Professional Regulation (OPR) recommended voluntary certification of a subset of doulas — ‘‘community‑based perinatal doulas’’ — rather than regulation of the entire profession. OPR said certification is the least‑restrictive form of regulation appropriate to give consumers a market signal about competency while allowing substantive flexibility in how applicants show qualifications (training, mentorship, experience or a combination).

Testimony from a long‑time community doula who co‑founded the Doula Association of Vermont described community doulas’ role serving under‑resourced and marginalized families and summarized research linking doula care to improved outcomes, including lower rates of preterm birth, cesarean deliveries and postpartum mood…