The awareness of how doulas improve birth outcomes continues to grow. This fall, the Ohio Senate announced a bipartisan effort to expand access to doula care. The bill would enable Medicaid reimbursement for doula services. The bill, introduced by Senators Paula Hicks-Hudson (D) and Michele Reynolds (R), aims to improve maternal and infant health outcomes by making doula care accessible to more families.
Ohio Medicaid Doula Bill
The proposed legislation would allow Medicaid recipients in Ohio to access doula services during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. This approach reflects growing national attention about the high rates of poor maternal and infant health outcomes in the US which do not match other developed nations.
It also highlights the growing health disparities, particularly among Black, Indigenous, and rural communities. While doulas cannot solve all disparities in care, doula support can improve the likelihood of positive outcomes for the families they serve.
Establishing Medicaid reimbursement would acknowledge the essential role of doulas in the perinatal care team. Doulas provide families with continuous emotional, physical, and educational support throughout the perinatal period.
Why Medicaid Doula Coverage Matters
Doula care has been consistently shown to improve maternal and infant outcomes, including:
- Lower rates of cesarean birth
- Fewer complications during labor
- Higher breastfeeding initiation rates
- Increased satisfaction with the birth experience
- Improved emotional well-being during postpartum recovery
For many families, cost is the primary barrier to accessing doula support. Medicaid reimbursement would make these benefits available to more parents. This is especially important for those in communities where birth outcomes remain inequitable.
Ohio’s Effort to Improve Maternal Health
Senators Hicks-Hudson and Reynolds emphasized that improving birth outcomes will ultimately save lives and reduce long-term healthcare costs. Investing in doulas is an evidence-based strategy that benefits families, communities, and the healthcare system as a whole.
Why This Matters for Doulas
For professional doulas—and those in training—this legislation represents growing policy momentum across the U.S. There’s an aim to formally integrate doulas into the healthcare landscape. For some doulas, this is exciting. For other doulas, there is concern about too much integration into healthcare.
States such as Minnesota, Oregon, New Jersey, and Rhode Island have already implemented Medicaid reimbursement programs for doula services. If passed, Ohio would join a growing list of states recognizing doulas as essential birth workers.
This shift also means that qualified, well-trained doulas will be in high demand. Programs like the International Doula Institute’s training and certification ensure doulas meet professional standards and are prepared to work within emerging reimbursement systems.
At IDI, we ensure doulas are fully trained to work in a variety of ways with a variety of families. Whether you hope to work within healthcare systems and with Medicaid reimbursement, or you plan to work independently only, our training equips you to be prepared for either situation.
Looking Ahead
The introduction of this bill is a good step forward for Ohio families. As legislative efforts like this continue to expand, doulas can expect more opportunities to serve families across all income levels.
Access to evidence-based support is an important part of improving outcomes for everyone. Reducing financial barriers improve access for more families.
At IDI, We’re Ready for the Future
The International Doula Institute remains committed to preparing doulas for all types of birth support. For some doulas, there is an important intersection of traditional birth support and public health support.
We’ll continue to follow updates on the Ohio bill and other state-level policies that advance doula accessibility and professional recognition.
Not already a birth doula? Register now and be ready to support more families!
Author: Aliza Juliette Bancoff
Aliza Juliette Bancoff is a well-known doula and doula trainer who has been providing doula services to families for over a decade. She is the founder of Main Line Doulas, a doula group providing doula support in the great Philadelphia area for the last decade, the International Doula Institute, which provides online doula training and lactation training and certification programs and the International Breastfeeding Institute which provides lactation training and certification. She is the co-founder of United Birth, a company devoted to increasing access to doulas across the country to make the perinatal time safer both physically and emotionally. “Every birthing person deserves access to quality doula support. And we are working to make that a reality across the country. The work we are doing to get doulas to every birthing person will decrease the black infant and maternal mortality rate significantly by 2030.” Says Bancoff. Aliza is known for her compassionate and empowering approach to doula work, and she has been featured in numerous media outlets, including United Nations Maternal Health Report, Parent Magazine, CafeMom, theBump and many more. Aliza's journey into doula work began when she gave birth to her first child and felt a strong calling...