This bill would create a new program within the Veterans Affairs (VA) health system to provide doula services to pregnant veterans. A doula is a trained professional who provides physical, emotional, and informational support to women during pregnancy, labor, and after birth. The program would run for five years as a pilot project, meaning it's being tested to see if it works well before potentially becoming permanent. The VA would partner with outside organizations to deliver these services to veterans who are already enrolled in VA health care. The main goal is to see whether having doula support actually improves birth outcomes and mental health for pregnant veterans, using the VA's "Whole Health" approach, which focuses on treating the whole person rather than just individual medical issues. Essentially, the government would be studying whether adding doula services to VA pregnancy care helps veterans have healthier pregnancies and better mental health outcomes.

DOULA for VA Act of 2023

Davis, Donald G.

Delivering Optimally Urgent Labor Access for Veterans Affairs Act of 2023 or the DOULA for VA Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a five-year pilot program to furnish doula services to pregnant veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system. The program must furnish doula services through eligible entities by expanding the VA's Whole Health model to measure the impact that doula support services have on birth and mental health outcomes of pregnant veterans. The Whole Health model is a holistic approach that looks at the many areas of life that may affect health in order to make a health plan suited for each individual based on his or her health goals.