Legislators Introduce Bipartisan Doula Services Bill

Today, state Senators Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo) and Michele Reynolds (R-Canal Winchester) held a press conference to announce that they will introduce a bill to allow Medicaid to reimburse for doula services. The legislation aims to improve maternal and infant health outcomes by providing access to the care of trained doulas.

"This bill is a critical step in addressing health disparities and improving maternal and infant health outcomes," said Senator Hicks-Hudson. "We believe all women deserve access to the care they need to have healthy and safe childbirths. By allowing Medicaid to reimburse for doula services, we can help make this objective a reality."

"As a legislator, I believe in common-sense solutions that make Ohio a safe place to live, work, and raise a family…and that starts at birth," said Senator Reynolds. "That is why we are here today to introduce this important piece of legislation, referred to as the Doula Bill. This bill embodies our commitment to healthy families, addresses disparities in maternal health, and combats infant mortality in Ohio. I am proud to be a joint sponsor of this bipartisan, bicameral effort to increase positive birth outcomes for Ohio families by supporting the Doula Bill."

Doulas are trained professionals who provide physical, emotional, and informational support to women and their families before, during, and after childbirth. Research has shown that doula involvement can lead to a decrease in the need for medical interventions during childbirth, such as cesarean sections, as well as a reduced likelihood of low birth weight babies, who are at a significantly higher risk of mortality.

If passed, the Doula Bill would enable doula service providers to become certified with the Ohio Board of Nursing, establish a Doula Advisory Board that works collaboratively with the Ohio Board of Nursing to implement and oversee the standards for certification and authorize Medicaid reimbursement for doula services in Ohio.

Joining the Senators were state Representatives Latyna Humphrey (D-Columbus) and Andrea White (R-Kettering), who have introduced House Bill 7, also known as the Strong Foundations Act. H.B. 7 expresses the General Assembly’s intent to support strong foundations for mothers and babies in order to address maternal and infant mortality and improve health and developmental outcomes. At the press conference, Representatives Humphrey and White announced their intention to include the Doula Bill in H.B. 7.

“Today’s press conference illuminated the importance of bipartisanship and working across the chamber to support mothers and children in our state," said Representative Humphrey. "The doula bill and H.B. 7 are bipartisan efforts to expand doula services and their coverage under Medicaid. Representative White and I discussed our multi-faceted approach to creating a state where mothers and children are supported in every arena, from childcare to mental health.”

“More mothers are dying from causes related to pregnancy and childbirth in Ohio than in any other state, and more than 1 in 150 Ohio babies don’t live to see their first birthday,” said Representative White. “Now more than ever, we need this doula bill and many other measures to address maternal and infant mortality and improve health, developmental and learning outcomes for babies, mothers, and families.”

Members of state health agencies and representatives from doula organizations around Ohio joined the legislators to demonstrate their support for the bill. Among them were Franklin County Commissioner Erica Crawley, who introduced similar legislation in the 134th General Assembly; Dr. Meredith Shockley-Smith, Executive Director of Cradle Cincinnati; and Ohio Commission on Minority Health Director Angela Dawson.

“Doula support during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period reduces rates of cesarean deliveries, prematurity and illness in newborns, and the likelihood of postpartum depression,” said a press statement from the Commission on Minority Health. “The Commission supports this legislation to ensure that doula services will be approved to provide much needed services and obtain Medicaid reimbursement to reach our most vulnerable populations and expand Ohio’s efforts to impact maternal and infant health outcomes to create a landscape of health equity for future generations to come.”

Watch the full press conference here.