Medicaid would cover pregnancy support from doulas and midwives

State Medicaid programs would have to cover care from providers who qualify under the bill. Covered care would include pregnancy, birth, and postpartum support at home, in community settings, and in health facilities. Care would need to respect patients’ cultural backgrounds. Telehealth would qualify only to the extent state law allows. Coverage would apply to care furnished on or after January 1, 2027. If federal health officials determine state legislation is needed, extra compliance time would end on the first day of the first calendar quarter after the first regular legislative session beginning after enactment closes. Each year of a two-year session would count separately.

Medicaid programs would not charge patients part of the cost of covered care from these eligible providers. This protection would cover pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care from eligible doulas, midwives, tribal midwives, and breastfeeding support providers. Federal health officials would need to determine that state legislation is needed for a state to receive extra compliance time. The protection would apply to care furnished on or after January 1, 2027. Extra compliance time would end on the first day of the first calendar quarter after the first regular legislative session beginning after enactment closes. Each year of a two-year session would count separately.