MD HB1251

Hospitals providing obstetric care must adopt policies allowing at least one doula present during birth in addition to authorized guests, though hospitals may still limit the total number of doulas or guests

Hospitals must establish informed consent policies for significant medical interventions including cesarean sections, labor induction, labor augmentation, operative vaginal delivery, and episiotomy

Hospitals must create transfer acceptance policies for receiving patients and medical records from home birth providers, including licensed direct-entry midwives

Medical professional liability insurers must provide the Maryland Department of Health, upon request, with information about their coverage policies for obstetric services including vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC)

Hospitals must submit evidence of policy adoption to the Maryland Department of Health by January 1, 2026, and the Department must make these policies available to the public on request