H 1139 Massachusetts House · 193rd Legislature (2023-2024)

An Act relative to insurance coverage for doula services

This bill amends Massachusetts law to require Medicaid and certain other insurance plans to cover doula services for pregnant and postpartum individuals, including those with limited immigration status. It defines doula services as non-medical support provided during pregnancy, labor, and up to one year after birth, covering activities such as continuous labor support, home visits, and connecting families to community resources. The legislation mandates that plans cover continuous labor support and at least six visits across the prenatal and postpartum period without needing prior approval. Additionally, the bill creates a Doula Advisory Committee to guide policy implementation, ensuring the committee includes diverse representatives such as practicing doulas, individuals with lived maternal health experiences, and people from communities with worse maternal outcomes.
Bill status passed 3 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2023
Committee Review
May 2024
Senate Passage
Feb 2023
Governor
Introduced Feb 16, 2023 Last action May 9, 2024
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate. No roll call record of that vote is available.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
8
Key actions
1
Committee
3
May 9, 2024
Committee
Committee recommended bill ought to pass and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means
lower
Apr 3, 2024
Committee
Reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Health Care Financing
lower
Feb 16, 2023
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred
upper
Feb 16, 2023
Committee
Referred to the committee on Financial Services
lower
0 primary · 9 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.