The bill H. 3108 aims to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by adding Chapter 145 to Title 44, which establishes provisions for the reimbursement of doula services under specific conditions. It mandates that private insurance and Medicaid cover these services, outlines criteria for Medicaid coverage, and creates a scope of practice for doulas. The bill also establishes a doula certification organization responsible for promulgating regulations for statewide certification and maintaining a registry of certified doulas. Additionally, it specifies the services that doulas can provide and prohibits them from engaging in medical practice.

Furthermore, the bill introduces Section 38-71-134, which requires all individual or group health insurance contracts issued or renewed in South Carolina after January 1, 2026, to cover perinatal doula services within their professional competence. Insurers cannot require supervision or referral from other healthcare providers for reimbursement, nor can they charge for duplicate services provided by both a doula and another healthcare provider. The bill also mandates that insurers report utilization and cost information related to doula services to the Department of Insurance starting July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
12/05/2024: 38-71-134
Latest Version: 38-71-134
12/06/2024: 38-71-134