Bill > HB2573

This bill aims to expand Medicaid coverage for doula services in Texas by requiring the state's Health and Human Services Commission to provide medical assistance reimbursement for doula care. Specifically, the bill mandates that doulas can receive reimbursement from the date a pregnancy is confirmed by a medical professional until 12 months after the pregnancy ends, in addition to any existing case management service reimbursements. The bill requires the executive commissioner to seek a federal Medicaid plan amendment to implement these changes, with a deadline of January 1, 2026. If federal waivers are needed for implementation, the agency may delay implementation until those waivers are granted. A doula is a trained professional who provides emotional, physical, and informational support to mothers before, during, and after childbirth. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, and represents an effort to improve maternal and infant healthcare by increasing access to doula services for Medicaid recipients.

Health and Social Services

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB2573