HB1264: HB1264 Medical assistance; pilot program to provide coverage under Medicaid program for doula care for pregnant Medicaid recipients; provide

26 LC 46 1399 House Bill 1264 By: Representatives Bazemore of the 69th, Buckner of the 137th, McQueen of the 61st, Hugley of the 141st, and Cannon of the 58th A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Cod e of Georgia Annotated,1 relating to medical assistance generally, so as to provide for a pilot program to provide2 coverage under the Medicaid program for doula care for pregnant Medicaid recipients; to3 provide for reimbursement; to provide for doula qualifications; to provide for a report; to4 provide for termination of the pilot project and automatic repe al; to provide for related5 matters; to provide for contingent effectiveness upon appropria tion of funds; to repeal6 conflicting laws; and for other purposes.7 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:8 SECTION 1.9 Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Geor gia Annotated, relating to10 medical assistance generally, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:11 "49-4-159.5.12 (a) The department shall develop and implement a pilot program to provide Medicaid13 coverage for doula care for pregnant Medicaid recipients. Such pilot program may provide14 reimbursement for up to five doula visits for each pregnant Medicaid recipient, which may15 include visits for prepartum care, labor and delivery, and postpartum care.16 H. B. 1264 - 1 - 26 LC 46 1399 (b) All doulas participating in the pilot program shall have completed appropriate training,17 as determined by the department.18 (c) No later than December 31, 2028, the department shall submit a detailed written report19 on the implementation and effectiveness of the pilot program to the Governor, the President20 of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the chairpersons of the21 House Committee on Health, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, the House22 Committee on Appropriations, and the Senate Appropriations Comm ittee. Such report23 shall include the health outcomes of participants and recommendations on the best process24 of reimbursing doulas to promote retention in the perinatal workforce. The report shall also25 include recommendations as to expansion of the pilot program state wide.26 (d) The pilot program created by this Code section shall terminate on January 1, 2029, and27 this Code section shall be repealed by operation of law on such date."28 SECTION 2.29 This Act shall become effective only upon the effective date of a specific appropriation of30 funds for purposes of this Act, as expressed in a line item making specific reference to such31 Act in a General Appropriations Act enacted by the General Assembly.32 SECTION 3.33 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.34 H. B. 1264 - 2 -