AB 2199 Summary

• Establishes a 3-year grant program administered by the State Department of Public Health to fund community-based doula groups, local health departments, and other organizations providing doula care to underserved communities and incarcerated people.

• Grant recipients must award funds by July 1, 2024, with no more than 15% of appropriated funds spent on administrative costs.

• Requires doula payment rates to be at least equal to the Medi-Cal reimbursement rate or the median rate from existing California pilot projects, whichever is higher, and must include prenatal, labor/delivery, and postpartum services.

• Eligible grant recipients include community-based doula groups, community-based organizations, birthing centers, local public health departments, and public hospitals serving pregnant and birthing people.

• Pilot project targets pregnant people with incomes up to 600% of federal poverty level who are ineligible for Medi-Cal and incarcerated individuals; program automatically repeals January 1, 2029, with a required departmental report due by that date.