Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman SHANIQUE SPEIGHT
District 29 (Essex and Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Requires DHS to conduct public awareness campaign on benefits of doula and midwife services, and educate women on NJ FamilyCare coverage of these services.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning doula and midwife services and supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. There is established a public awareness campaign in the Department of Human Services in order to promote among women and birthing persons in the State an understanding of the benefits of the health care and services provided by certified doulas and licensed midwives, and the availability of NJ FamilyCare coverage for doula and midwife services. The public awareness campaign shall provide for the development of print and electronic media.
b. The public awareness campaign shall include, but shall not be limited to:
(1) a comprehensive description of the person-centered care and supportive services provided for birthing persons and infants during the prenatal, birthing, and postpartum periods by doulas and midwives;
(2) the culturally competent nature of the care and services available to birthing persons from doulas and midwives;
(3) the continuum of well-woman care available across a womans lifespan from midwives;
(4) the health benefits and improved maternal and infant health outcomes resulting from doula and midwife care; and
(5) information concerning NJ FamilyCare coverage of doula and midwife services for pregnant, birthing, and postpartum enrollees, and coverage of midwife care and services across the lifespan of women enrolled in NJ FamilyCare.
c. (1) The Department of Human Services shall provide, in an easily accessible location on its website, information concerning the types of care and services provided by doulas and midwives, the health benefits associated with the care and services furnished by doulas and midwives, and the availability of NJ FamilyCare coverage for doula and midwife services.
(2) The department shall additionally make available on its website a directory of doulas and midwives who are approved NJ FamilyCare providers, including information on each of the NJ FamilyCare managed care plans in which each doula and midwife participates. The department, at a minimum, shall update this information annually.
d. As used in this section:
Doula has the same meaning as provided in section 1 of P.L.2023, c.286 (C.26:2H-12.6i).
Midwife means a certified
midwife, a certified professional midwife, or a certified nurse midwife
pursuant to R.S.45:10-1 et seq.
2. The Department of Human Services shall, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this act.
3. This act shall take effect on the first day of the third month next following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
The bill requires the Department of Human Services (the DHS) to conduct a public awareness campaign to inform women and birthing persons about the benefits of health care services provided by certified doulas and licensed midwives, and the availability of NJ FamilyCare coverage for doula and midwife services. The public awareness campaign will encompass both print and electronic media.
The public awareness campaign will include information concerning:
(1) the person-centered care and supportive services that doulas and midwives provide for both birthing persons and infants over the prenatal, birthing, and postpartum periods;
(2) the culturally competent nature of the care and services available from doulas and midwives;
(3) the continuum of well-woman care delivered by midwives;
(4) the health benefits and improved maternal and infant health outcomes resulting from doula and midwife care; and
(5) the availability of NJ FamilyCare coverage for doula and midwife services for pregnant, birthing, and postpartum enrollees, and coverage for midwife care and services across the lifespan of women enrolled in NJ FamilyCare.
Under the bill, the DHS will provide, in an easily accessible location on its website, information concerning the types of care and services furnished by doulas and midwives, the health benefits associated with the doula and midwife care, and the availability of NJ FamilyCare coverage for doula and midwife services. The DHS website will also include a directory of doulas and midwives who are approved NJ FamilyCare providers, and information on the NJ FamilyCare managed care plans in which each doula and midwife participates. The DHS, at a minimum, will update the information in the directory annually.