# The Mamas First Act: What It Does

The Mamas First Act would require Medicaid to pay for doulas and midwives to help pregnant women and new mothers. Right now, Medicaid covers many pregnancy and childbirth services, but it doesn't consistently cover these two types of birth support professionals. This bill would change that by making doula and midwife services a covered benefit that all states must include in their Medicaid programs.

A doula is someone who provides emotional support, information, and physical comfort during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period—but they don't deliver babies or provide medical care. A midwife is a trained healthcare professional who can deliver babies and provide full maternity care. The bill also includes tribal midwives, who are recognized by Native American tribes to practice midwifery. All of these services could be provided at home, in a hospital, at a birth center, or even through telehealth, and they must be delivered in a culturally respectful way that matches each person's values and beliefs.

The bill's supporters point to research showing that doula and midwife care leads to better health outcomes. According to the findings in the bill, mothers with doulas are four times less likely to have low-birth-weight babies and twice less likely to experience birth complications. The bill also notes that the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed countries, with Black women and Native American women facing especially high risks. By making these services available through Medicaid, the bill aims to improve maternal health and reduce preventable deaths, particularly for low-income women who rely on Medicaid for healthcare.

Mamas First Act

Moore, Gwen

Mamas First Act This bill requires state Medicaid programs to cover doula and midwife services, including prenatal, delivery, and postpartum services, in a variety of settings.