Tennessee Senate Bill SB0187

Tennessee 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/17/23

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71, Chapter 5, relative to doulas.

Impact

The legislation represents a significant shift in how doula services are approached within the state's healthcare framework. By mandating the formation of the advisory committee, the bill sets out to establish core competencies and fee schedules for reimbursement under TennCare for doula services. This change aims to address the disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes, particularly for communities that have been historically underserved. Additionally, the bill allows for more inclusive practices by not imposing barriers such as licensure on doulas, thus promoting a broader and more diverse doula workforce.

Summary

Senate Bill 187, known as the Maternal and Infant Mortality Prevention Act, aims to improve maternal and infant health outcomes in Tennessee by formalizing the role of doulas and facilitating access to doula services. The bill recognizes the positive impact that doula care can have, such as higher breastfeeding initiation rates and lower cesarean delivery rates. A key aspect of the bill is the establishment of a Doula Services Advisory Committee that will advise the Department of Health on standardizing and regulating doula services across the state.

Contention

While the bill has a supportive stance from many advocacy groups who see the potential for improved health outcomes, there may be contention related to how reimbursement rates are determined and who qualifies as a doula under the new regulations. Stakeholders may also raise concerns about the adequacy of the proposed support for doulas operating in rural versus urban environments. The establishment of a committee implies that ongoing discussions and potential adjustments will be needed to meet the diverse needs of the communities served by doulas.