The "Abortion DOULAS Act" aims to study and improve access to abortion doula care, particularly for underserved populations, by directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to research the benefits and coverage of doula services and provide recommendations for state Medicaid plans.
Marilyn Strickland
Representative
WA-10
The "Abortion Data and Outreach to Unlock and Leverage Abortion Support Act" or the "Abortion DOULAS Act" aims to improve access to abortion doula care by directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study the benefits of such care and its coverage. This includes assessing the impact on individuals' well-being and care quality, as well as the role of doulas in providing support. The Act also requires a report on state Medicaid approaches to abortion doula care, with recommendations for increasing access, particularly in underserved areas, and integrating doula care into Medicaid plans.
New Bill Proposes Federal Study on Abortion Doula Benefits, Eyes Medicaid Coverage Pathways
The "Abortion DOULAS Act" sets the stage for a federal look into the role and impact of abortion doulas. At its core, this legislation directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to formally study the benefits of having doula support during abortion care. It also requires HHS to investigate how state Medicaid programs are currently handling (or not handling) coverage for these services and to offer recommendations for potentially expanding access.
More Than Just Holding a Hand: What Abortion Doulas Do
So, what exactly is an abortion doula? According to the bill (Section 2), they're trained, non-clinical professionals offering emotional, social, informational, and physical support before, during, and after an abortion. Think practical help, patient navigation, advocacy, and post-abortion care coordination. The bill's findings (Section 3) highlight that while research shows benefits for doulas in birth settings, specific data on abortion doula impact is limited – something this bill aims to fix. It also notes that doulas can be particularly crucial for navigating healthcare barriers faced by marginalized communities, especially in the landscape following the Dobbs decision, helping combat misinformation and stigma.
Getting the Facts Straight: The Study and Report Breakdown
This isn't about immediately mandating coverage; it's about information gathering first. Section 4 tasks HHS with a deep dive into how abortion doula care affects well-being, care quality, and overall availability across the U.S. This involves collecting anonymized data directly from patients, families, doulas, and providers, alongside reviewing existing literature and consulting experts. Following this, Section 5 requires HHS to produce a public report within 18 months for Congress. This report will detail how states currently approach abortion doula care within Medicaid, outlining benefits, challenges, and potential policy pathways for states considering adding or improving such coverage – looking at regulations, eligibility, services covered, and payment models.
Bridging the Gap: Why This Matters for Access
The practical reality, as noted in the bill's findings (Section 3), is that accessing doula care often comes down to awareness and cost. Many doulas work as unpaid volunteers because private insurance and state Medicaid programs often don't cover their services, especially for abortion care. This legislation aims to build the evidence base and provide a roadmap for states that might want to use Medicaid to make abortion doula support more accessible. By studying the benefits and outlining policy options, the bill seeks to address the financial and systemic barriers that currently limit access, potentially making this form of support available to more people, regardless of their ability to pay out-of-pocket.