Minnesota Doula Bill
Susan Lane, of the Childbirth Collective non profit doula group, reports that the 2007 version of the doula bill, bill 1296, has been accepted in the House of Representatives in the Minnesota Legislature.
The Senate also has a version of the bill. The goal is to include doula care coverage by Minnesotan’s health maintenance organizations and state medicare.
HF 1296 includes this current wording:
A bill for an act
1.2relating to insurance; requiring coverage for doula services; requiring medical
1.3assistance to cover doula services; establishing a doula registry; ensuring in the
1.4patient bill of rights the presence of a doula if requested by a patient; amending
1.5Minnesota Statutes 2006, sections 144.651, subdivisions 9, 10; 256B.0625, by
1.6adding a subdivision; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
1.7chapter 62A; proposing coding for new law as Minnesota Statutes, chapter 146B.
1.8BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1. [62A.0412] COVERAGE FOR DOULA SERVICES.
1.10 Subdivision 1. Scope of coverage. This section applies to all health plans as defined
1.11in section 62A.011 that offer maternity benefits.
1.12 Subd. 2. Required coverage. Every health plan in subdivision 1 must provide
1.13coverage for doula services when provided by a nationally certified doula of the mother’s
1.14choice.
1.15 Subd. 3. Special restrictions prohibited. Coverage under this section shall not be
1.16subject to any greater coinsurance, co-payment, or deductible than that applicable to any
1.17other nonpreventive service provided by the health plan.
1.18 Subd. 4. Definitions. The definitions in this subdivision apply to this section.
1.19(a) “Doula services” means emotional and physical support during pregnancy, labor,
1.20birth, and postpartum.
1.21(b) “Nationally certified doula” means an individual who has received certification
1.22to perform doula services from the International Childbirth Education Association, the
1.23Doulas of North America (DONA), the Association of Labor Assistants and Childbirth
1.24Educators (ALACE), Birthworks, Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association
1.25(CAPPA), or Childbirth International.
2.1EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2007, and applies to coverage
2.2issued or renewed to Minnesota residents on or after that date.
The doula registry is currently described like this:
Sec. 5. [146B.02] REGISTRY.
4.13 Subdivision 1. Establishment. The commissioner of health shall maintain a registry
4.14of certified doulas who have met the requirements listed in subdivision 2.
4.15 Subd. 2. Qualifications. The commissioner shall include on the registry any
4.16individual who:
4.17(1) submits an application on a form provided by the commissioner. The form must
4.18include the applicant’s name, address, and contact information;
4.19(2) maintains a current certification from one of the organizations listed in section
4.20146B.01, subdivision 3;
4.21(3) completes a criminal background check; and
4.22(4) pays the fees required under section 146B.04.
4.23 Subd. 3. Renewal. Inclusion on the registry maintained by the commissioner is
4.24valid for three years. At the end of the three-year period, the certified doula may submit a
4.25new application to remain on the doula registry by meeting the requirements described in
4.26subdivision 2.
The rest of the bill has to do with definitions and restating the responsibilities of the registry. Read the entire bill.
Congratulations, Susan, The Senate and House authors, The Collective, and other dedicated doulas and friends who have put this bill forward. Next it goes to Health and Human Services for approval.
Here is Susan’s contact information.
Susan Lane, CD, LCCE
3rd Party Chair
The Childbirth Collective
salane@visi.com