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Senate orders third reading of bill to create voluntary certification and Medicaid pathway for community perinatal doulas
Summary
S.53 would establish a voluntary certification framework for community-based perinatal doulas, create associated fees and renewal requirements, and—subject to a state plan amendment—enable Medicaid coverage for doula services. The Senate ordered third reading after committees reported.
The Vermont Senate on March 20 ordered third reading of S.53, which establishes a voluntary certification for community-based perinatal doulas and sets an implementation timeline and modest appropriation for the Office of Professional Regulation to stand up the credentialing process.
What the bill does
- Creates a voluntary certification chapter for community-based perinatal doulas in Title 26, defining perinatal and doula terms and establishing certification eligibility, application, renewal, and penalties for misuse of the certified title. - Charges the Office of Professional Regulation (OPR) with administering the program and authorizes rulemaking; OPR testified that certification for nonclinical, nonmedical support is the least restrictive regulatory approach to protect the public. - Sets a fee structure for applications and renewals; the Finance Committee reviewed and found fees reasonable. - Health and Welfare reported an amendment that adds effective dates and a one-time appropriation of $25,000 to OPR in fiscal 2026 to establish the certification program. The Medicaid coverage section takes effect on the later of July 1, 2026, or approval of a state plan amendment if required.
Committee reports and appropriations
Government Operations voted 5–0–0 to recommend the bill; Health and Welfare proposed the amendment with effective dates and a $25,000 appropriation and voted 5–0–0. Finance reviewed fees and reported favorably (7–0–0). Appropriations indicated it would oppose adding the appropriation and signaled it would offer a third‑reading amendment to remove the $25,000 appropriation if the Health and Welfare amendment passed; the Senate ultimately voted down the Health and Welfare amendment and proceeded to third reading of the underlying bill without the $25,000 appropriation.
Outcome and implementation timing
As reported by Health and Welfare, sections establishing certification would take effect July 1, 2026, with rulemaking to occur earlier; the Medicaid‑coverage section would take effect on July 1, 2026, or upon approval of any needed state plan amendment. The Senate ordered third reading after committee reports and a floor vote on the committee amendment.
Attribution
The bill was carried through committees by Senator Hollimore (Government Operations) and reported in Health and Welfare by Senator Gulick. The Office of Professional Regulation and the Department of Vermont Health Access provided committee testimony.
