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Senate committee hears evidence that Medicaid-covered doula care would be a low-cost intervention with health benefits
Summary
Sen. Cora Newman presented SB319 to allow optional Medicaid coverage of doula care and create a DLI oversight program; fiscal estimates in committee testimony showed modest general fund impact (~$117,000/year) if 6% of anticipated births access doulas, while proponents cited evidence of reduced preterm births and maternal mental-health benefits.
Sen. Cora Newman told the Senate Finance and Claims committee that Senate Bill 319 would create a doula oversight program in the Department of Labor and Industry and permit Montana Medicaid to cover doula care without mandating coverage. Newman summarized DPHHS estimates that a 6 percent uptake among roughly 44,750 projected births (about 2,850 births) would cost an estimated $4.456 million in total with the state's general fund share near $117,000 annually after FMAP adjustments. "So that's just shy of 120,000 each year for fiscal years '27,…
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