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Committee advances bill to expand birth centers, raise doula reimbursement and expand fatherhood initiative amid questions on providers and costs
Summary
House Bill 7102 would direct state agencies to increase birth centers, boost Medicaid doula reimbursement and expand fatherhood programs. Members pressed for details on facility models, Medicaid billing, ERISA‑covered private plans and where funding would come from.
The Human Services Committee advanced House Bill 7102, a multi‑part maternal and infant health proposal that includes: a plan from state agencies to expand birth centers and birthing hospitals in underserved areas; an increase in Medicaid reimbursement for doula services; and an expansion of a fatherhood initiative to improve fathers’ support for maternal health.
Members asked whether birth centers would be hospital‑associated or independent and whether they accept Medicaid and private insurance. Committee members were told Connecticut statutes require birthing centers to be associated with hospitals and that existing expanded birthing‑center statute has so far yielded only one operating center. Legislators and witnesses discussed closures of hospital labor and delivery units in parts of the state and the possibility of using birthing centers to address “maternity deserts.”
Several legislators asked how doulas are paid now and whether private ERISA plans cover doula services; members were reminded that ERISA plans are regulated by the federal government and can’t be required by state law, which limits what the state can mandate. The bill’s sponsor said Medicaid covers some doula payments but that the measure would expand Medicaid coverage and would rely on available appropriations for the higher reimbursement.
Committee members asked about malpractice and insurance for non‑medical support persons, and the sponsor said doulas typically carry their own liability coverage or are covered by groups that employ them; the bill does not mandate liability arrangements.
Why it matters: The measure aims to increase maternity care capacity and support for birthing families in regions that have lost hospital‑based labor and delivery services. Sponsors argued the bill targets equity gaps in access and postpartum support; members from both parties sought clarity on costs and regulatory barriers.
What’s next: Committee members voted to advance the bill; the chair and sponsor said further fiscal and implementation questions would be addressed in follow‑up outreach to the Department of Social Services and other agencies.
