HB 263: Medical assistance; pilot program to provide coverage under Medicaid program for doula care for pregnant Medicaid recipients; provide

Georgia's Medicaid program does not currently pay for doula care, the nonmedical labor and childbirth support some pregnant people hire. This bill would add a new section to Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 49-4-159.5) directing the Department of Community Health to set up a pilot program covering up to five doula visits per pregnant Medicaid recipient, covering prepartum, labor and delivery, and postpartum care. Doulas would have to complete training the department sets before they can take part. By December 31, 2027, the department must send a detailed report on the program's results, including health outcomes and recommendations on paying doulas and expanding the program statewide, to the Governor and several legislative committees. The pilot would automatically end and the law would be repealed on January 1, 2028. The whole bill only takes effect if the General Assembly specifically appropriates money for it in a budget bill.

• Creates a Medicaid pilot program covering up to five doula visits per pregnant Medicaid recipient for prepartum, labor and delivery, and postpartum care.
• Requires doulas in the program to complete training approved by the Department of Community Health before participating.
• Requires a written report by December 31, 2027 to the Governor and key legislative committees on the program's health outcomes and reimbursement recommendations.
• Automatically ends the pilot program and repeals the new Code section on January 1, 2028.
• Makes the entire Act contingent on the General Assembly setting aside specific funding for it in a General Appropriations Act.

Pregnant Georgians enrolled in Medicaid, doulas who provide labor and delivery support and would need state-approved training to participate, and the Department of Community Health, which would design, run, and report on the pilot program.

If funded, Medicaid recipients could get doula support paid for during pregnancy and childbirth, a service currently unavailable through Georgia Medicaid. Because the law only takes effect with a specific budget appropriation, whether any of this happens depends on future funding decisions.

• Section 1 adds O.C.G.A. § 49-4-159.5, directing the department to create a pilot program covering up to five doula visits per Medicaid recipient during pregnancy.
• Subsection (b) requires all participating doulas to complete training determined by the department.
• Subsection (c) requires a report by December 31, 2027 covering health outcomes, reimbursement recommendations, and statewide expansion options.
• Subsection (d) sets the pilot program and the Code section to terminate and repeal automatically on January 1, 2028.
• Section 2 makes the Act effective only if the General Assembly enacts a specific line-item appropriation for it.
• Section 3 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2025-02-06House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-02-05House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-02-04House Hopper (House)

• Karen Bennett (D, HD-094)Primary sponsor
• Debbie Buckner (D, HD-137)
• Mekyah McQueen (D, HD-061)
• Carolyn Hugley (D, HD-141)
• Park Cannon (D, HD-058)
• Stacey Evans (D, HD-057)

• Medicaid coverage
• doula care
• maternal health
• pregnancy support
• state funding