Establishes a work group to set reimbursement rates for doulas in the state Medicaid program and address other criteria related to their practice

Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

• Democratic9
• Republican3

This bill has cosponsors from more than one party.

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Samra Brouk says this is needed

Historically excluded and low-income communities in the United States are at disproportionately higher risks of poor birth outcomes, maternal mortality, and other pregnancy-related complications. On April 13, 2022, the New York State Department of Health released a report titled New York State Report on Pregnancy Associated Deaths in 2018, detailing the state of maternal health affairs in the state. According to the report, from 2016-2018, New York improved to 23rd in the United States with a maternal mortality rate of 18.1 deaths per 100,000 lives versus the rate of 24.4 per 100,000 between 2008-2010. While the decreased rate is noticeable, BIPOC pregnant people experienced pregnancy-related deaths four to five times more compared to non-Hispanic or white pregnant people. The emerging popularity of doula care is one of the promising approaches in addressing maternal health and combating maternal health disparities. Research suggests that a doula's presence during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period have resulted in decreases in negative birthing outcomes and have subsequently led to reduced impacts of racism and racial bias in health care on pregnant people of color by providing birthing patients with culturally appropriate, individually tailored, and patient-centered advocacy. Further, in 2019, the Department of Health launched a Doula Medicaid pilot program to target high maternal mortality rates and reduce racial disparities in health outcomes in Erie County. The pilot program accounted for 760 people enrolling in one of six different Medicaid Care Plans or Medicaid-Fee-for-Service have participated in the pilot programs. The pilot programs covered up to four visits with a doula before delivery, up to four visits with the doula after delivery, and doula support during labor and delivery. While the doula pilot program primarily focused on Erie County and its high maternal mortality rates, the intent and purpose of this legislation is to create a Medicaid reimbursement work group that would identify and examine a framework that would provide New York's Medicaid recipients with quality doula care services while simultaneously providing doulas with equitable and sustainable reimbursements for their services.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.