NC Task Force Urges Medicaid to Cover Doulas for Child Fatalities
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A group in North Carolina is advocating for state support to make doula services more affordable for people on Medicaid. The North Carolina Child Fatality Task Force is discussing the potential of having the Medicaid program pay for doula services; studies have shown that doula support decreases the likelihood of cesarean sections and postpartum depression amongst Medicaid users, and also increases the likelihood of healthy babies and successful breastfeeding in low-income mothers. Doula services could cost about $1.5 million a year for reimbursements and $550,000 a year for training, promotion, and engagement.
Advocacy groups in North Carolina are pushing to make doula services more affordable via Medicaid support.
A group committed to improving the health of pregnant North Carolina residents advocates for state support to include doula services in Medicaid. Doulas offer non-medical support to parents at various stages – before, during, and after childbirth.
Q&A with a NC doula about affordable, accessible maternal care
The North Carolina Child Fatality Task Force considered Medicaid-funded doula services in a recent meeting. Over 60,000 babies born to North Carolina residents in 2023 were covered by Medicaid, reflecting the potential impact of such a program.
National organizations like the Institute for Medicaid Innovation and the National Law Health Program advocate for doula services within Medicaid plans.
Doula support has proven beneficial according to several studies. A 2022 study noted that doula support reduced the likelihood of cesarean sections and postpartum depression among Medicaid users. Another study in 2013 found that low-income mothers who received doula support had better birth outcomes.
The state has been contemplating including doula services in Medicaid for several years, with the Department of Health and Human Services supporting local doula programs through grants.
The state held a doula summit in 2022 to envision what Medicaid-supported doula services could entail. Unfortunately, Medicaid reimbursement for doula services was not granted in the 2022-23 budget.
The Child Fatality Task Force committee on Perinatal Health recommended continued advocacy for Medicaid-funded doula services, which would cost around $2.05 million annually for reimbursements, training, promotion, and doula engagement.
The committee also considered supporting licensure for Certified Professional Midwives. While Certified Nurse Midwives are licensed in the state, Certified Professional Midwives are not, although they are often hired for home births. Thirty-six states and Washington DC license Certified Professional Midwives, which could help mitigate maternity care shortages in rural and underserved areas.
The committee held off on a final decision regarding CPM licensing, citing a need for further discussions.
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