MA H4344

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 coinsurance, effective September 1, 2026

Mandates coverage of minimum 20 hours of prenatal and postpartum doula services per pregnancy plus continuous labor and delivery support, with no prior authorization required and a process for approving additional hours for high-risk patients

Defines doula services broadly to include physical, emotional, and informational support from conception through 12 months after pregnancy, childbirth, adoption, miscarriage, stillbirth, or abortion—including bereavement support and connecting individuals to community resources

Creates a 10-12 member Doula Advisory Committee appointed by the Governor, primarily composed of practicing doulas, to meet with MassHealth at least every 8 weeks to consult on billing, reimbursement rates, and grievance procedures

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