LANCASTER, PA, March 26, 2024 – Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh and Department of Health (DOH) Acting Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen today visited Patients R Waiting to discuss the Shapiro Administration’s recent work to address maternal health disparities through expanded Medicaid access to doulas. Secretary Arkoosh and Acting Secretary Boden also stressed the importance of doulas as part of care teams for historically underserved populations and to highlighted investments in Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2024-25 Budget that address the national trend of rising pregnancy-associated deaths.
Pennsylvania’s recent expansion in Medicaid creates a path for doulas to become certified providers, increasing women’s access to doulas as part of their care teams and helping to improve birth outcomes in Pennsylvania.
“Pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum periods are exciting but often stressful times for a new parent and easing barriers to the incredible physical, emotional, and educational support that doulas provide can improve outcomes for both moms and babies,” said Secretary Arkoosh. “By increasing access to doulas for Medicaid recipients giving birth, we recognize the important contribution doulas make in the continuum of prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care and are taking another significant step to improving health outcomes for mothers, babies, and communities more broadly.”
To help address maternal health disparities in access to quality health care for mothers, especially Black and Latino Pennsylvanians who may experience greater barriers to care and less representation in care settings, the Shapiro Administration recently expanded access to doulas for Medicaid recipients. Doula services have been found to ease the pregnancy and labor process and improve birth outcomes for both mother and child. This recent change now allows certified doulas to enroll as Medicaid providers and enables Medicaid managed care organizations to enter into network agreements with them, allowing them to bill directly for services offered through pregnancy and postpartum.
In order to be recognized by Medicaid, doulas must be certified through the Pennsylvania Certification Board.DHS strongly encourages all doulas in the Commonwealth to complete their certification so they can participate in Medicaid formally and help reduce the barriers to care for Medicaid recipients interested in having a doula as part of their care team. The PA Doula Commission is currently offering a financial scholarship for the cost of the Certified Perinatal Doula application fee.
**********
Thank you for reading an excerpt of this article on scoopusamedia.com. To read more of the article, “TShapiro Administration announces expansion of access to doulas through change in medicaid, highlights budget investments to improve maternal health,” please subscribe to Scoop USA Media. Print subscriptions are $75.00 and online subscriptions (Print, Digital and Vizion) are $90. (52 weeks/1 year)
