This bill requires the bureau of TennCare to develop and implement a pilot program during the fiscal year 2024-2025 to provide doula care services to a woman who meets certain requirements to be deemed eligible under the program for up to 12 months postpartum, and to provide payment to providers who provide doula care services.
A woman is eligible to receive doula care services pursuant to the pilot program if the woman is pregnant; the woman is a TennCare recipient; the woman's healthcare provider determines that doula care services are medically appropriate; and the woman's healthcare provider determines:
(1) The woman has an increased likelihood of experiencing a higher-risk pregnancy due to the presence of certain factors listed in the bill; or
(2) The woman lives in a county without a licensed obstetrician/gynecologist who participates in TennCare, or the woman lacks reliable transportation to access the healthcare provider.
This bill authorizes the director of the bureau of TennCare to seek a federal waiver that the director determines is necessary to implement the pilot program.