Bill > HB1251

This bill requires hospitals providing obstetric care to adopt and implement three key policies: a doula policy allowing at least one doula to be present during birth, an informed consent policy for significant medical interventions (like cesarean sections), and a transfer acceptance policy for receiving patients from home birth settings or midwives. A doula is defined as a nonmedical professional who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to birthing parents throughout prenatal, labor, and postpartum periods. Significant medical interventions include cesarean sections, labor induction, labor augmentation, operative vaginal delivery, and episiotomy. Hospitals must provide evidence to the Maryland Department of Health that they have adopted these policies by January 1, 2026, or upon establishment if created after that date. The bill also requires medical professional liability insurers to provide the Maryland Department of Health with information about their obstetric services coverage upon request. The legislation aims to improve transparency, patient autonomy, and support for birthing parents, while allowing hospitals some flexibility in setting specific guest or doula limitations. The bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB1251?ys=2025RS