MassHealth begins covering doula services to improve equity in maternal and fetal health outcomes.
Doulas provide non-medical support that helps reduce disparities and inequities for low-income and people of color. MassHealth members (and their families) are eligible for doula support while they are pregnant, during delivery, and up to 12 months after delivery. The new benefit is substantial, as MassHealth is estimated to cover 40% of births in the state.
Coverage of doula services for MassHealth members is example of MassHealth and the Department of Public Health working together to improve health outcomes for women and people of color. These agencies started working together in 2021 on the Doula Initiative, which aims to develop a certification process for doulas and find ways to ensure high-quality doula access for families. Both the Special Commission on Racial Inequities in Maternal Health 2022 report and the Healey-Driscoll administation's Review of Maternal Health Services 2023 report recommend promoting the use of doulas.
