Pennsylvania bill to expand Medicaid coverage to doulas advances in House

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — A bill to expand Medicaid coverage to include doulas has advanced in the State House.

HB 1608, which would provide medical assistance reimbursement for doula services to expecting parents and create a Doula Advisory Board, passed the House Health Committee on Wednesday.

The vote came as the capitol is wrapping up its observation of Black Maternal Health Week and lawmakers considered several measures to reduce maternal mortality rates, which are higher among Black women.

According to the 2024 Pennsylvania Maternal Mortality Review Annual Report, which was released earlier this month, 107 deaths were considered maternal deaths in 2020.

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“As we close out on Black Maternal Health Week in Pennsylvania, moving this bill is vital in our efforts to bring awareness to maternal health issues in Pennsylvania and to provide the service that expecting families need,” the bill’s prime sponsor Morgan Cephas (D-Philadelphia) said during the meeting.

As Cephas asked lawmakers to vote in support of the bill at the meeting, she said doulas can provide physical and emotional support during childbirth as well as experience both during and after pregnancy.

“Doulas are non-medical professionals trained to give physical and emotional support in childbirth. Doulas offer constant uninterrupted attention and encouragement during the birthing process. They are skilled in comfort and relaxation techniques for labor, and experience and giving non-judgmental emotional support. Additionally, doulas can provide extended support during pregnancy and giving birth.”

Lawmakers in the committee discussed the bill for more than 20 minutes before it passed on a 14-11 party-line vote.

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Several of the committee’s Republican members –who all voted against the bill — said they took issue with language used in the bill’s amendment, specifically the use of the term “pregnant individual,” saying it went against their religious values.

“House bill 1608 could have been a simple bill that I would have been glad to support, but as a firm believer in Judeo-Christian values I cannot in good conscience vote for this bill as amended,” the committee’s minority chair Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren, Crawford, Forest) said.

Supporters of the bill criticized the lawmakers for making decisions based on religion and explained that gender-neutral language was included in the bill to make it more inclusive.

“I think again as a Commonwealth, we are not tasked with making decisions on any one religion,” Rep. Jessica Benham (D-Allegheny).

“Part of amendment includes utilizing gender-neutral language, as it is considered best practice in legal drafting right now… Although I understand that the language change is upsetting some members of the committee and I regret if it feels like the focus distracts from the point. Rather the essence is about providing our department the legal and logistical capacity to move forward with important coverage of doulas. I truly wish we could move beyond discussions about language and deal with the need to address these very real health issues,” the committee’s majority Chair Dan Frankel (D- Allegheny) said.

The bill was laid on the House table for later consideration.

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