AUGUSTA – Rep. Deqa Dhalac, D-South Portland, presented legislation before the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee last Thursday to improve perinatal care through expanding access to doulas for expecting mothers in Maine.
LD 1523 seeks to expand access to doula services by allowing MaineCare to pay for doula attendance during childbirth, as well as prenatal and postpartum visits.
“As a former doula, I know firsthand the profound impact the personalized support that doulas provide can have on new mothers. By expanding MaineCare coverage so expecting mothers can access this perinatal care, we have a chance to improve maternal and infant health outcomes,” said Dhalac. “Doula care is a proven, evidence-based service that can help improve birth experiences and outcomes in a state where our birth rates are down.”
The Maine Medical Association and Maine Osteopathic Association testified jointly in support of the bill, stating that “there is compelling evidence that doulas can play a critical role in supporting pregnant individuals. Despite evidence of the effectiveness of doulas, they’re frequently underused, often because of a lack of access and affordability. Enabling these services to be paid for through MaineCare is a critical step toward improving equality and efficiency in maternal health care.”
The bill defines “doula services” as “provision of services to a person by a nonclinical professional related to the physical, emotional and informational support of that person throughout pregnancy, labor, birth and the postpartum period, including, but not limited to, guidance and support concerning pregnancy health, childbirth, infant feeding and newborn care.”
The Health and Human Services Committee will hold a work session on this bill in coming weeks.
Dhalac is serving her second term in the Maine House of Representatives, representing part of the City of South Portland. She is a member of the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee.
Contact: Brian Lee (Dhalac) | 305-965-2744