Bill
H 4344
Massachusetts H 4344 would require insurers to cover doula services with no cost-sharing and minimum hours, expanding access to nonmedical perinatal support.
Note on sources and scope
- The materials provided include two distinct measures sharing the identifier H 4344: (A) a South Carolina House resolution proclaiming June 2025 as “South Carolina Trails Month,” and (B) a Massachusetts bill (House No. 4344) that would require insurance coverage for doula services. These are separate instruments in different jurisdictions. The summary below treats each separately and then notes procedural actions included in the record.
Purpose and intent
- Proclaims June 2025 as “South Carolina Trails Month.”
- Encourages residents to use and enjoy the State’s trails for walking, hiking, and cycling and to realize associated health, educational, social, and community benefits.
Key provisions
- Formal, nonbinding proclamation by the South Carolina House of Representatives designating June 2025 as “South Carolina Trails Month.”
- Calls attention to the geographic variety of trails across the state (Upstate, Midlands, Lowcountry, coast) and highlights National Trails Day (June 7, 2025) as a related observance.
Who is affected / impact
- Ceremonial and promotional: primarily affects public awareness and encourages residents, communities, local trail groups, tourism interests, and agencies to promote trail use and maintenance.
- No regulatory or budgetary provisions — does not create legal obligations or appropriations.
Procedural/timeline
- Introduced and adopted on April 10, 2025 (per the provided legislative action).
Purpose and intent
- Mandates health insurance coverage for doula services across specified state and commercial plans, expanding access to nonmedical perinatal support.
Key provisions (selected, specific)
- Definitions: “Doula services” defined as physical, emotional, and informational support (not medical care) provided from conception through 12 months after pregnancy, childbirth, adoption, miscarriage, stillbirth, or abortion. Lists services such as continuous labor/delivery support, bereavement support, appointment accompaniment, resource referral, on-call support (including telehealth), education, and advocacy.
- Coverage scope:
- Amends Chapter 32A (state group insurance) and inserts a new section into Chapter 175 (commercial/accident & sickness policies) to require coverage for doula services.
- Applies to Commonwealth active/retired employees and dependents under the Group Insurance Commission, and to certain commercial and employer-funded group policies delivered or renewed in the Commonwealth.
- Cost-sharing and limits:
- Coverage must not be subject to deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, or other cost-sharing. Exception: plans that would lose tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code may require deductibles.
- Minimum coverage: at least 20 hours of prenatal and postpartum doula services per pregnancy, plus continuous labor and delivery support (inclusive of all outcomes). No per-day billing time limits within authorized hours.
- Policies must provide a process to approve additional hours when patient risk or need is heightened.
- Provider rules:
- No referral from another health care provider required for reimbursement.
- Reimbursement rates for doulas must be at least equivalent to MassHealth’s doula reimbursement rate.
- Policies must follow doula credentialing requirements developed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health; MassHealth-certified doulas satisfy credentialing.
Who is affected / impact
- Insurers and group health plans operating in Massachusetts would be required to cover doula services and adjust plan documents and reimbursement procedures.
- State employees and commercial plan enrollees would gain a covered benefit (with low or no cost-sharing in most cases).
- Doulas: expanded payer sources and mandated minimum reimbursement parity with MassHealth; credentialing standardized through DPH.
- Health care providers and birthing families: increased access to nonmedical perinatal support, potentially affecting utilization and outcomes.
- Fiscal impacts: not quantified in the text provided — could affect premium costs, insurer expenditures, and state plan costs.
Procedural/timeline (from provided actions)
- 2025-04-10: A House resolution (South Carolina Trails Month) introduced and adopted.
- 2025-07-31: Massachusetts draft activity — new draft of H1312, House No. 4344 reported from the Financial Services committee, reported favorably and referred to Health Care Financing; committee filing dated 7/25/2025 and filed 7/31/2025 appear in the record.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
Sign in to ask a question.
