A proposal to increase Medicaid coverage to include doulas has made progress in the State House. HB 1608, a bill that would help expecting parents by providing reimbursement for doula services and establishing a Doula Advisory Board, was approved by the House Health Committee on Wednesday.
The vote happened while the capitol was finishing its observation of Black Maternal Health Week. Lawmakers were discussing different ways to lower the rates of maternal mortality, which are higher for Black women.
The 2024 Pennsylvania Maternal Mortality Review Annual Report, which came out recently, shows that there were 107 deaths classified as maternal deaths in 2020.
“As we near the end of Black Maternal Health Week in Pennsylvania, it is crucial to pass this bill in order to raise awareness about maternal health issues in the state and to offer the necessary support to expecting families,” stated Morgan Cephas (D-Philadelphia), the main sponsor of the bill, during the meeting.
During the meeting, Cephas requested that lawmakers vote in favor of the bill. She explained that doulas can offer physical and emotional assistance during childbirth, as well as provide support throughout pregnancy and after.
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“Doulas are people who are not medical professionals but have been trained to provide physical and emotional support during childbirth.” Doulas provide continuous support and encouragement throughout the process of giving birth. They have expertise in providing comfort and relaxation techniques during labor, as well as offering non-judgmental emotional support. Furthermore, doulas can offer extra assistance throughout pregnancy and childbirth. The lawmakers in the committee talked about the bill for over 20 minutes before it was approved with a vote of 14-11 along party lines.
Some Republican members of the committee, who voted against the bill, expressed their disagreement with the language used in the bill’s amendment. They specifically objected to the term “pregnant individual,” citing conflicts with their religious beliefs.
“House bill 1608 could have been a straightforward bill that I would have been happy to support. However, as someone who strongly believes in Judeo-Christian values, I cannot vote for this bill in good conscience, considering the changes that have been made,” stated Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren, Crawford, Forest), the minority chair of the committee.
People who supported the bill were unhappy with the lawmakers because they were making decisions based on religion. They also mentioned that the bill included gender-neutral language to make it more inclusive.
“I believe that, as a Commonwealth, our responsibility does not involve making decisions based on any particular religion,” said Rep. Jessica Benham (D-Allegheny).
“One part of the amendment involves using gender-neutral language, which is currently considered the best practice in legal drafting.” I understand that some members of the committee are upset about the language change, and I apologize if it seems like the focus is being taken away from the main point. The main idea is to give our department the legal and logistical ability to proceed with important coverage of doulas. The majority Chair of the committee, Dan Frankel (D- Allegheny), expressed a desire to focus on addressing the actual health issues rather than continuing to talk about language. The bill was placed on the table in the House for future consideration.
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