Summary:

 House Bill 214 (HB214)relating to health by enacting the Doula credentialling and Access Act that requires the Secretary of Health to promulgate rules to establish a voluntary credentialing process to allow doulas to enroll as Medicaid providers. Also, HB214 provides for appointment of a credentialing advisory council and establishing a process for collaborating among state agencies, local governments entities and private entities for sharing certain information regarding services provided by credentialed doulas and requiring annual reporting and creating a doula fund and requiring hospitals and freestanding birth centers to create policies to allow doulas to accompany patients receiving certain services on their premises.  

Legislation Overview:

 House Bill214 (HB214( enacting the Doula Credentialling and Access Act. A "doula" means a trained, nonmedical professional who provides services, including health education, advocacy or physical, emotional or social support, to a person during the pre-conception period, pregnancy, childbirth or the postpartum period to promote positive health outcomes.
The Secretarry of Health is to promulgate rules for credentialling of doulas including the establishment and administration of a voluntary program for credentialing doulas, including the development of criteria for: (a)  education; (b)  training; (c)  experience; and (d)  other qualifications that the secretary deems appropriate in accordance with the provisions of the Doula Credentialing and Access Act; (2)  procedures for the receipt and review of and action upon applications for initial credentialing; (3)  standards for continuing education, professional development, mentorship activities and other requirements that the secretary deems appropriate for recertification; (4)  the creation of a workforce development plan, including practices for promoting equitable access to doula credentialing for members of underserved communities. (5)  procedures for disciplinary action relating to applicants or credentialed doulas, including guidelines for: (a)  reprimands; (b)  probation; (c)  denial, suspension or revocation of credentialing or recredentialing; and (d)  an appeal process; (6)  the development and operation of a publicly accessible online directory for identifying credentialed doulas; and (7)  other matters that the secretary deems appropriate to carry out the provisions of the Doula Credentialing and Access Act.
The Secretary may collect fees as required.
A credentialed doula shall engage only in those activities authorized pursuant to the Doula Credentialing and Access Act and by rules adopted and promulgated pursuant to that act.  While engaging in practice as a credentialed doula, an individual shall not engage in or perform any act or service for which another professional certificate, license or other legal authority is required.  Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent or restrict the practice, service or activities of an individual simultaneously credentialed as a credentialed doula and licensed, certified, registered or otherwise legally authorized in the state to engage in the practice of another profession if that individual does not, while engaged in the authorized practice of another profession, use any name, title or other designation indicating that the individual is a credentialed doula.
A Doula Credentialling Council is to be appointed, and the membership is provided in the legislation. The Council consists of fifteen members. Twelve members of which will come from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds and varied geographic regions, at least eight of whom shall be doulas. Other members shall consist of Secretaries of various Departments. 
The Council will make recommendations as to the credentialling process, standard for approval, and requirements for minimal levels of education, training and experience for credentialing.
The Department shall collaborate with state agencies, local governments and private entities to share relevant, disaggregated, non-personal identifying information regarding the provision of credentialed doula services.  Beginning September 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the department shall submit to the governor and the legislature an annual report, subjects to include (1)  the number of credentialed doulas enrolled as medicaid providers; (2)  demographic information on credentialed doulas enrolled as medicaid providers; (3)  the location, by county, of where credentialed doulas practice; (4)  the number of eligible persons receiving services from credentialed doulas; (5)  demographic data of eligible persons receiving services from credentialed doulas; (6)  the total cost of services provided by credentialed doulas per eligible person; (7)  the duration of services provided by credentialed doulas to each eligible person; (8)  the average number of credentialed doula visits, per eligible person, by service type; and (9)  the pregnancy-related health outcomes of eligible persons, including instances of gestational diabetes, prenatal and postpartum hospitalizations, premature births, caesarean sections, birth injuries and infant and maternal deaths.

Each hospital and freestanding birth center shall: adopt and maintain written policies and procedures authorizing a patient to select a doula of the patient's choice to accompany the patient within the facility's premises for the purposes of providing services during pregnancy, childbirth and the twelve-month postpartum period.
The "doula fund" is created as a non-reverting fund in the state treasury.  The fund shall be administered by the department and consists of gifts, grants, donations and bequests made to the fund. 
Money in the fund is subject to appropriation by the legislature to the department for purposes relevant to the provisions of the Doula Credentialing and Access Act. 
The Department shall adopt rules on qualifications for grants and specify the format, procedure and deadlines for grant applications.
Disbursements from the fund shall be made upon vouchers issued and signed by the secretary or the Secretary's designee upon warrants drawn by the Secretary of fFnance and Administration.