An Act to Improve
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1523
Committee Amendment CA_A_H443 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 1008, L.D. 1523, "An Act to Improve 
Perinatal Care Through Expanded Access to Doula Services" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, to Develop MaineCare Coverage for Doula Services' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. Rate determination for doula services. Resolved: That, no later than 
January 1, 2026, the Department of Health and Human Services shall initiate a rate 
dete1mination process according to the requirements of the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 
22, section 3173-J for the provision of doula services under the MaineCare program with a 
planned start for reimbursement, subject to sufficient appropriations from the Legislature, 
of January 1, 2028. For the purposes of this resolve, "doula services" means the provision 
of services to a person by a nonclinical professional related to the physical, emotional and 
inf01mational support of that person throughout pregnancy, labor, bitth and the postpartum 
period, including, but not limited to, guidance and support concerning pregnancy health, 
childbirth, infant feeding and newborn care. 
Sec. 2. 
Doula council. 
Resolved: 
That the deprutment shall establish a 
multidisciplinary statewide doula council to provide advice and make recommendations to 
the depaitment regarding doula services, including consulting in the rate determination 
process pursuant to section 1. The doula council must include practicing doulas. The doula 
council must provide advice to the depattment on topics, including, but not litnited to, the 
scope of doula services that could become eligible for reimbursement under the MaineCare 
program, appropriate credentials for doulas, strategies for recruiting a diverse workforce of 
doulas to provide services in the State, reimbursement and billing issues and outreach to 
the public about how to access doula services. 
Sec. 3. Report. Resolved: That the depa1tment shall submit a report, no later than 
Februruy 1, 2027, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over health and human services matters with the department's progress on developing rates 
under section 1 and recommendations for reimbursement for doula services under the 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
ROS 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,A" to H.P. 1008, L.D. 1523 
MaineCare program pursuant to section 2. The report must include recommendations on 
the appropriateness of MaineCare reimbursement for doula services, a timeline for 
implementation of rates and state plan amendments, the necessary budget requests to fund 
the provision of doula services under the MaineCare program and a permanent structure 
for a doula council. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over health and human services matters is authorized to repoit out legislation to the 133rd 
Legislature in 2027. 1 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section 
number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill with a resolve requiring the Department of Health 
and Human Services to initiate a rate determination process for developing rates for doula 
services under the MaineCare program. The department shall establish a doula council to 
provide advice on issues related to reimbursement, credentialing, recruitment, billing and 
outreach. The department shall submit a report, no later than February 1, 2027, to the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services 
matters that includes the department's progress on developing rates and recommendations 
for reimbursement of doula services under the MaineCare program. The committee is 
authorized to repo1t out legislation related to the rep01t to the 133rd Legislature in 2027. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05/05/25 L-RL 
LD 1523 
LR 647(02) 
An Act to Improve Perinatal Care Through Expanded Access to Doula Services 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment~' {H--L/l/3) 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Any additional costs to the Department of Health and Human Services from the provisions of this bill are expected to 
be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR0647(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1