This bill would create a new program within the Veterans Affairs system to provide doula services to pregnant veterans. A doula is a trained professional who provides physical, emotional, and informational support to pregnant women before, during, and after childbirth. Right now, the VA doesn't routinely offer this service, but this bill would change that by setting up a five-year test program to see if doulas can help improve birth outcomes and mental health for veterans who are pregnant. The program would work with outside organizations that employ doulas to deliver these services, rather than the VA hiring doulas directly. The goal is to expand the VA's existing "Whole Health" approach, which focuses on treating the whole person rather than just individual medical problems, by measuring whether doula support actually makes a real difference in how pregnancies go and how veterans feel mentally and emotionally after giving birth. If the pilot program shows positive results, it could become a permanent part of VA healthcare for pregnant veterans.

DOULA for VA Act of 2023

Booker, Cory A.

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.