Mamas First Act

Summary#

This bill, the Mamas First Act, would change Medicaid (Title XIX of the Social Security Act) so Medicaid must cover services given by doulas, midwives, tribal midwives, and lactation support providers. Covered care includes prenatal, labor, and postpartum care. Services may be provided in the home, community, hospital, birth center, clinic, health unit, or by telehealth where state law allows. The bill adds definitions and minimum training or certification or recognition requirements for each provider type. It also prohibits cost sharing for these services. The main effective date is January 1, 2027, with extra time for States that need to pass enabling state legislation.

What it means for you#

• Medicaid enrollees who are pregnant or recently postpartum could receive care from doulas, midwives, tribal midwives, and lactation support providers as a covered service.
• States would be required to include these services in their Medicaid plans.
• People using these covered services would not have cost sharing (for example, copayments) for them under Medicaid.
• Providers who meet the bill's definitions and training or certification requirements could be authorized to bill Medicaid for these services.
• Telehealth delivery of these services is allowed when state law permits.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

The bill includes findings that U.S. maternal mortality rates are high and vary by race and ethnicity, that many maternal deaths are likely preventable, and that doula and midwifery care are associated with better outcomes and lower intervention rates. The bill also notes midwifery-led care can be linked to cost savings and healthier outcomes for mothers and babies. These findings explain why sponsors want Medicaid to cover these services.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.