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House establishes DPH advisory committee to study perinatal mental health and doula-friendly hospital practices
Summary
HB 7214 tasks the Department of Public Health with convening an advisory committee to study perinatal mental health and doula-friendly policies; a floor amendment removed a fiscal-note item and the bill passed 138–3. The committee will include providers, hospital and community representatives.
The Connecticut House adopted HB 7214, which directs the Department of Public Health to convene an advisory committee to study perinatal mental health, community- and multigenerational practices, the feasibility of doula-friendly hospital policies, and models for funding services.
Representative McCarthy Behave, presenting the amendment, said the floor change removed a previous fiscal-note requirement (a report card) while preserving the committee’s study charges. "The department has been working closely with existing partners and can build on what is already in motion," she said. Representative Belton, a bill co-sponsor and longtime maternal-health advocate, thanked hospitals, PSI Connecticut and the Hispanic Health Council for their work on the issue.
Members asked about committee composition and scope; proponents said they sought broad representation from practitioners, hospitals, mental-health professionals and community organizations. The amendment was adopted and the bill passed on a roll call of 138–3 with ten members absent.
What’s next: DPH is expected to convene the advisory committee and report back with recommendations to improve perinatal mental-health supports and to consider policies that increase doulas’ integration with hospital practices.
