Senate Bill No. 142, introduced by Senator Barrow, mandates that Medicaid managed care organizations in Louisiana provide coverage for doula services, effective August 1, 2024. The bill enacts R.S. 46:972.1, which outlines the legislative findings regarding the benefits of doula support during pregnancy and childbirth, including lower cesarean rates and improved maternal health outcomes. It specifies that each Medicaid managed care organization must cover a minimum of three prenatal visits, three postpartum visits, and attendance during labor and birth, with a minimum service rate of $1,250 per pregnancy.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that doulas may choose to practice without seeking reimbursement from Medicaid managed care organizations, provided they have approved registration with the Louisiana Doula Registry Board. It also prohibits any discriminatory terminology against doulas in Medicaid managed care plans and ensures that existing policies will conform to the new requirements by their renewal date, no later than January 1, 2025.