MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – The Vermont Senate has given the greenlight to legislation expanding Medicaid coverage to new mothers.
Doulas aren’t medical professionals but they assist parents through pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum. They aim to improve health outcomes and make sure babies are born at term and avoid C-section surgeries. Depending on the amount of time a doula spends with a family, the services can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars.
The Senate on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to S.109, a bill that would explore requiring state Medicaid to cover doula services.
“I am someone who used doulas for both of my births. But I had the privilege and the wherewithal to afford it. This is going to allow folks who may not be in that position to have the same level of care that I and other folks in Vermont have been able to enjoy,” said Sen. Martine Gulick, D-Chittenden County.
The bill also sets up a process for the Office of Professional Regulation to certify and regulate doulas. After the analysis is complete, state lawmakers would need to vote on whether Medicaid should cover doulas in 2025. Lawmakers say their intention is for doulas to be independent and not tied to clinics or hospitals.
The bill needs one more vote before heading to the House.
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