SF 132 (LSB 1600XS (2) 91)

SENATE FILE 132

BY  PETERSEN, STAED, CELSI, DONAHUE, DOTZLER, TOWNSEND, WAHLS, BENNETT, and WEINER

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to Medicaid coverage of maternity care including doula care.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT FOR MATERNITY CARE INCLUDING DOULA CARE.
   1.  Under both fee-for-service and managed care administration of Medicaid, the department of health and human services shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A, amend any contract with a managed care organization, and apply for any Medicaid state plan amendment or waiver as may be necessary to provide for maternity care including doula care.
   2.  The department of health and human services, in collaboration with stakeholders, shall establish:
   a.  A process for a doula to be certified and enrolled as a participating provider.
   b.  A reimbursement rate for doula services that supports a livable annual income for a full-time practicing doula.
   3.  For the purposes of this section, “doula” means a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to a pregnant person before, during, and after childbirth to improve birth outcomes, prevent stillbirths and infant deaths, and reduce maternal morbidity and mortality.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to maternal and child health improvements under the Medicaid program by directing the department of health and human services (HHS) under both fee-for-service and managed care administration of Medicaid to adopt rules pursuant to Code chapter 17A, amend any contract with a managed care organization, and apply for any Medicaid state plan amendment or waiver as may be necessary to provide maternity care including doula care as defined in the bill. The bill provides that HHS, in collaboration with stakeholders, shall establish a certification and participating provider enrollment process for doulas, and a reimbursement rate for doula services.