Not later than September 1, 2023, the bill requires the department
of health care policy and financing (state department) to initiate a stakeholder process to promote the expansion and utilization of doula services for pregnant and postpartum medicaid recipients (recipients).
The bill requires the state department to work with a maternity
advisory committee to create a report detailing the findings and recommendations from the stakeholder process and submit the report to the general assembly during the state department's SMART Act hearing.
Not later than July 1, 2024, the bill requires the state department
to seek federal authorization for medicaid providers to provide doula services for pregnant and postpartum people.
The bill creates a doula scholarship program to provide financial
support to eligible individuals to pursue doula training and certification. To be eligible for a scholarship, individuals must agree to enroll as a doula provider and provide doula services to recipients.
The bill requires the division of insurance (division) to contract
with an independent entity to study the potential health-care costs and benefits of providing coverage for doula services in health benefit plans. The bill requires the division to submit a report to the general assembly during the state department's SMART Act hearing detailing the results and recommendations from the study during the state fiscal year 2024-25.
