MA H5021

Establishes the Maternal Health Justice Fund, administered by the Department of Public Health, to expand and manage the doula workforce in Massachusetts

Defines perinatal doulas as trained professionals providing physical, emotional, and informational support (not medical care) during pregnancy, labor, childbirth, miscarriage, stillbirth, or loss

Provides scholarships for doula certification, prioritizing applicants from historically marginalized backgrounds, low-income individuals, and those in geographic areas lacking doula availability

Requires the Department of Public Health to maintain a list of approved doula certification programs meeting specified competencies, including anatomy/physiology knowledge, labor coping strategies, HIPAA compliance, and client communication skills

Mandates eligible certification programs include training on health equity, implicit bias, racism, trauma-informed care, cultural sensitivity, and social determinants of health