Section 38.2-3414.2 - [See Note] Obstetrical benefits; coverage for doula care servicesA. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 38.2-3419, each insurer proposing to issue individual or group accident and sickness insurance policies providing hospital, medical and surgical, or major medical coverage on an expense-incurred basis; each corporation providing individual or group accident and sickness subscription contracts; and each health maintenance organization providing a health care plan for health care services whose policy, contract, or plan includes coverage for obstetrical services shall provide coverage for doula care services provided by a state-certified doula. Such coverage shall include coverage for at least eight visits during the antepartum or postpartum period and support during labor and delivery.B. As used in this section: "Doula care services" means (i) services to support pregnant individuals, improve birth outcomes, and support new mothers and families with culturally specific antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum services, referrals, and advocacy; (ii) advocating for and supporting physiological birth, breastfeeding, and parenting for clients; (iii) supporting the antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum periods with traditional comfort measures and educational materials, as well as assistance during the transition to parenthood in the initial postpartum period through home visits; (iv) empowering individuals and families with evidenced-based information to choose best practices for birth, breastfeeding, and infant care; (v) providing continuous support to the laboring individual until the birth of the baby at any location of delivery; (vi) referring clients to their appropriate provider for medical advice for care outside of the doula scope of practice; (vii) working as a member of the individual's multidisciplinary team; and (viii) offering evidence-based information on newborn and infant feeding, emotional and physical recovery from childbirth, and other issues related to the antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum periods.
"State-certified doula" has the same meaning as provided in § 32.1-77.1.
C. No insurer, corporation, or health maintenance organization shall be required to pay for duplicate services actually rendered by both a state-certified doula and another health care provider.D. No insurer, corporation, or health maintenance organization shall require supervision, signature, or referral by any other health care provider as a condition of reimbursement for doula care services, except when those requirements are also applicable to other categories of health care providers.E. The provisions of this section shall apply to any policy, contract, or plan delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in the Commonwealth on and after January 1, 2025.F. The provisions of this section shall not apply to short-term travel, accident-only, or limited or specified disease policies, contracts designed for issuance to persons eligible for coverage under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, known as Medicare, or any other similar coverage under state or federal governmental plans, or short-term nonrenewable policies of not more than six months' duration.Added by Acts 2024 c. 495,§ 1, eff. 7/1/2024.Added by Acts 2024 c. 460,§ 1, eff. .Acts 2024 c. 460,§ 2, and Acts 2024 c. 495,§ 2, provide "That the provisions of the first enactment of this act shall not become effective unless reenacted by the 2025 Session of the General Assembly."