H 4344
An Act relative to insurance coverage for doula services
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Bill overview
This bill aims to expand insurance coverage for doula services, which provide physical, emotional, and informational support to individuals and families throughout the pregnancy and postpartum period. It mandates that insurance policies cover doula services, including labor and delivery support, pregnancy loss support, and connecting individuals with community resources. The bill also establishes a process for approving additional doula hours and ensures reimbursement rates are equivalent to MassHealth’s standards, while establishing a Doula Advisory Committee to advise the Department of Medical Assistance.
Key provisions
- Requires insurance policies to cover doula services, including prenatal, labor, delivery, and postpartum support.
- Establishes a minimum of twenty hours of doula services coverage per pregnancy.
- Prohibits insurance policies from requiring referrals for doula services.
- Requires reimbursement rates for doulas to be at least equivalent to MassHealth’s rates.
- Creates a Doula Advisory Committee to advise the Department of Medical Assistance on doula coverage.
- Establishes a process for approving additional doula hours for high-risk pregnancies.
- Requires policies to follow doula credentialing requirements established by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
- Specifies that doula services are defined as physical, emotional, and informational support, but not medical care.
Who is affected
- Individuals and families seeking pregnancy and postpartum support
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Joint Committee on Financial Services
Cosponsors
Adrianne Pusateri Ramos
Bruce E. Tarr
Carmine Lawrence Gentile
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Bill H.4344 194th (Current)
An Act relative to insurance coverage for doula services
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Bill Information
Bill Information
Sponsor: Joint Committee on Financial Services Status: Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means
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Bill History Cosponsors Committee Vote Fiscal Note Committee Summary
Bill History
Displaying 4 actions for Bill H.4344
| Date | Branch | Action |
| 7/31/2025 | House | Reported from the committee on Financial Services |
| 7/31/2025 | House | New draft of H1312 |
| 7/31/2025 | House | Reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Health Care Financing |
| 12/4/2025 | House | Committee recommended bill ought to pass and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means |
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