See every side of every news story
Published loading...Updated

Doulas, Once a Luxury, Are Increasingly Covered by Medicaid — Even in GOP States

JASPER COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA, JUL 7 – Federal Medicaid cuts threaten coverage for 17 million people and could undermine state efforts expanding doula services that improve maternal health and reduce racial disparities.

  • Republican and Democratic lawmakers in several states, including South Carolina and Montana, are advancing Medicaid reimbursement bills for doula services in 2025 to improve maternal care.
  • These bills respond to evidence that doulas improve birth outcomes and reduce costs amid persistent racial disparities and low initial participation due to past low Medicaid rates.
  • Doulas like Dawn Oliver provide essential postpartum support often unpaid or undercompensated, while Medicaid covers more than half of births in areas like South Carolina where doula fees remain largely uncovered by insurance.
  • A 2024 study found that Medicaid-enrolled women using doulas faced 47% lower C-section risk and 29% fewer preterm births, highlighting benefits amidst 2022 data showing Black infants in South Carolina died twice as often before age one.
  • The expansion of doula coverage suggests potential to narrow health gaps and lower costs, though advocates express uncertainty over how forthcoming federal Medicaid cuts could affect these state efforts.
Insights by Ground AI
Does this summary seem wrong?

64 Articles

News MedicalNews Medical
+56 Reposted by 56 other sources
Center

Doulas, once a luxury, are increasingly covered by Medicaid — even in GOP states

As a postpartum doula, Dawn Oliver does her best work in the middle of the night.

·United States
Read Full Article
Think freely.Subscribe and get full access to Ground NewsSubscriptions start at $9.99/yearSubscribe

Bias Distribution

  • 79% of the sources are Center
79% Center

Factuality 

To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium

Ownership

To view ownership data please Upgrade to Vantage

American Prospect broke the news in Washington, United States on Monday, July 7, 2025.
Sources are mostly out of (0)