SB 23-288

Senate Bill 23-288, also known as the Coverage for Doula Services bill, aims to improve healthcare support for pregnant and postpartum Medicaid recipients by requiring the state health department to work with stakeholders to promote doula services. The bill establishes a scholarship program to help individuals become certified doulas who will then provide services to those in need. It also mandates an independent study on the costs and benefits of including doula services in health insurance plans. Governor Jared Polis signed this bill into law on May 30, 2023, making it effective immediately. This means that the state is now committed to expanding access to doula support for Medicaid recipients and studying its broader impact on healthcare coverage.

Official Summary

Not later than September 1, 2023, the act requires the department of health care policy and financing (state department) to initiate a stakeholder process to promote the expansion and utilization of doula services for pregnant and postpartum medicaid recipients (recipients). The act requires the state department to work with a maternity advisory committee to create a report detailing the findings and recommendations from the stakeholder process and submit the report to the general assembly during the state department's "SMART Act" hearing. Not later than July 1, 2024, the act requires the state department to seek federal authorization for medicaid providers to provide doula services for pregnant and postpartum people. The act creates a doula scholarship program to provide financial support to eligible individuals to pursue doula training and certification. To be eligible for a scholarship, individuals must agree to enroll as a doula provider and provide doula services to recipients. The act requires the division of insurance (division) to contract with an independent entity to study the potential health-care costs and benefits of providing coverage for doula services in health benefit plans. The act requires the division to submit a report to the general assembly during the state department's "SMART Act" hearing detailing the results and recommendations from the study during state fiscal year 2024-25. The act appropriates $100,000 from the general fund to the state department for use by the other medical services division for the doula scholarship program. The act appropriates $100,000 from the division of insurance cash fund to the department of regulatory agencies for use by the division of insurance to use for personal services. APPROVED by Governor May 30, 2023 EFFECTIVE May 30, 2023 (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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