CERTIFICATION This bill requires the commissioner of health ("commissioner"), using the findings and recommendations of the doula services advisory committee, to establish by rule a process by which the department of health ("department") issues verification of certification to a person who has demonstrated all of the following by providing proof of completion of a doula training program recognized by the commissioner:  An understanding of basic anatomy and physiology as related to pregnancy, the child-bearing process, breastfeeding, or chest feeding, and the postpartum period.  Awareness of strategies for providing emotional support, education, and resources during the perinatal period.  Knowledge of and ability to assist families with utilizing a variety of nonclinical labor coping and physical comfort strategies.  Awareness of strategies to foster effective communication between clients, their families, support services, and healthcare providers.  Knowledge of community-based, publicly and federally funded, and clinical resources available to the client for needs outside of the doula's scope of practice. DOULA SERVICES UNDER TENNCARE Present law requires medical assistance to be provided to individuals who qualify for TennCare. Such medical assistance may include skilled nursing home services, outpatient hospital services, and family planning services and supplies. This bill adds, as a type of medical assistance, doula services performed by a person who has received a verification of certification to perform doula services from the department. ON MARCH 20, 2025, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #2 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 44, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #2 makes the following revisions:  Removes the provision that requires TennCare to provide, as a type of medical assistance, doula services performed by a person who has received a verification of certification to perform doula services from the department of health.  Revises the provision requiring doula training, in order to receive a verification of certification, to include an understanding of basic anatomy and physiology as related to chest feeding but retains breastfeeding.  Adds that, in addition to the rules promulgated in order to establish a process by which the department issues a verification of certification to a person who has demonstrated certain knowledge by providing proof of completion of a doula training program recognized by the commissioner, the commissioner must promulgate other rules to effectuate the bill, including rules for the collection of fees and rules regarding the imposition of discipline, including the assessment and collection of fines.  Changes the effective date from July 1, 2025, to January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 71-5-107(a), 71-5-107