Vermont enacted legislation last session to begin the process of enabling Vermont families covered by Medicaid to have access to doula services. Doula support is an evidence-based policy that improves outcomes for babies and their families and promotes safer, less expensive births. Doula support is also correlated with improved infant-parent bonding and less postpartum depression and anxiety throughout the perinatal period, and increases equity in our community. This legislation, Act 50 (S.53), instructs the the Office of Professional Regulation (OPR) to create a voluntary certification process for community-based perinatal doulas and requires the Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA) to begin the process of making a formal request to the federal government to include doula services during the prenatal and postpartum periods as well as during labor and delivery in the State Medicaid Plan.

The Alliance supports the efforts of the Doula Association of Vermont to ensure that OPR and DVHA implement Act 50 as directed by the Legislature.

Lead Organization: Doula Association of Vermont

Data and Talking Points

• About 40% of all births in Vermont are covered under Medicaid
• In Vermont, in 2021, there were 2,021 Medicaid births, about 38% of total births in the state.
• Doulas offer non-clinical, non-medical, human-to-human support. Doula care is emotional support.
• Studies show that doula care leads to a 30% reduced risk of labor induction, a 28% reduced risk of cesarean section, and a 14% reduced risk of a newborn admission to the NICU.