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House committee advances bill to expand doula and lactation-counselor coverage and create Perinatal Collaborative
Summary
The Oregon House Committee on Health Care moved Senate Bill 1568A to the House floor after adopting an A3 amendment. The bill would require coverage of birth and postpartum doulas and lactation counselors under Medicaid and health plans and establish the Oregon Perinatal Collaborative at OHSU; OHA must define qualifications by rule by Jan. 1, 2028.
The Oregon House Committee on Health Care on Thursday adopted an amendment and voted to send Senate Bill 1568A to the House floor with a due-pass recommendation.
Legislative staff told the committee the A-engrossed bill makes changes to Medicaid and health benefit plan coverage for birth and postpartum doulas and lactation counselors, directs the Oregon Health Authority to define qualification criteria by rule for birth and postpartum doulas by Jan. 1, 2028, and establishes the Oregon Perinatal Collaborative at Oregon Health & Science University. Staff said the measure has a minimal fiscal impact and no revenue impact and that an A3 amendment on OLIS is substantially similar to the introduced bill but contains technical statutory changes.
Vice Chair Deal moved adoption of the A3 amendment dated Feb. 20, 2026; the committee called the roll and the amendment was adopted. Vice Chair Deal then moved the bill, as amended, to the House floor with a due-pass recommendation; the committee voted to advance the measure.
Committee members did not engage in extended debate on the amendment or the bill during the work session. The committee briefly confirmed a House carrier for the measure. The chair closed the work session on SB 1568A and opened consideration of the next bill on the agenda.
The bill would centralize perinatal efforts at OHSU through the Oregon Perinatal Collaborative and impose rulemaking duties on OHA to set qualification criteria for doulas; the committee record shows the policy is intended to expand covered services for Medicaid beneficiaries and insured patients. The committee's materials indicate minimal fiscal impact, and staff confirmed the measure is on track to move to the House floor.
