MA H1312

Requires all Massachusetts health insurance plans (including Group Insurance Commission, commercial insurers, HMOs, and Blue Cross Blue Shield) to cover doula services with no deductibles, copayments, or cost-sharing, effective September 1, 2026

Mandates coverage of minimum 20 hours of prenatal and postpartum doula services per pregnancy plus continuous labor and delivery support, without prior authorization; additional hours must be available for high-risk patients

Defines doula services broadly to include support from conception through 12 months after pregnancy, childbirth, adoption, miscarriage, stillbirth, or abortion, encompassing labor support, bereavement care, appointment accompaniment, and educational services

Establishes a 10-12 member Doula Advisory Committee (majority practicing doulas) to consult with MassHealth at least every 8 weeks on billing, reimbursement rates, grievance procedures, and workforce diversity

Creates a patient right to have their birth doula's continuous presence during labor and delivery, prohibiting facilities from counting doulas as guests or arbitrarily excluding them from clinical settings