Utah Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla is advocating for the inclusion of doula services in the state’s Medicaid coverage through SB284, a bill that passed unanimously in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.
Doulas, who provide emotional, physical, and informational support to parents before, during, and after childbirth, would be eligible for Medicaid payments if the bill is enacted.
This initiative aims to improve maternal health outcomes by offering non-medical support that can reduce complications and medical emergencies, ultimately lowering Medicaid costs.
The bill has faced challenges in the past due to budget concerns but has gained growing Republican support this year.
The potential cost to the state is $240,200, and while doulas are not medical providers like midwives, their presence has been linked to better childbirth outcomes, including fewer C-sections and preterm births.
Utah’s high fertility rate makes this a particularly timely initiative, and Escamilla argues that investing in practices that support women in raising families is crucial for the state’s future.