BILL NUMBER: S6494

SPONSOR: CLEARE
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the insurance law, in relation to requiring health
insurance policies to include coverage for doula services as required
coverage for maternity care

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To require all health insurance companies to include coverage for doula
services.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Item (i) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph 10 of subsection
(i) of section 3216 of the insurance law, as amended by chapter 238 of
the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows: (i) Every policy which
provides hospital, surgical or medical coverage shall provide Coverage
for maternity care, including hospital, surgical or medical care to the
same extent that hospital, surgical or medical coverage is provided for
              

illness or disease under the policy. Such maternity care coverage, other
than coverage for perinatal complications, shall include inpatient
hospital coverage for mother and for newborn for at least forty-eight
hours after childbirth for any delivery other than a caesarean
section,and for at least ninety-six hours after a caesarean section.
Such coverage for maternity care shall include the services of a doula
and the services of a midwife licensed pursuant to article one hundred
forty of the education law, practicing consistent with section sixty-
nine hundred fifty-one of the education law and affiliated or practicing
in conjunction with a facility licensed pursuant to article twenty-eight
of the public health law, but no insurer shall be required to pay for
duplicative routine services actually provided by bot h a licensed
midwife and a physician.

2. Item (i) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph 5 of subsection (k) of
section 3221 of the insurance law, as amended by chapter 238 of the laws
of 2010, is amended to read as follows: (i) Every group or blanket poli-
cy delivered or ò issued for delivery in this state which provides
hospital, surgical or medical coverage shall include coverage for mater-
nity care, including hospital, surgical or medical care to the same
extent that coverage is provided for illness or disease under the poli-
cy. Such maternity care coverage, other than coverage for perinatal
complications, shall include inpatient hospital coverage for mother and
newborn for at least forty-eight hours after childbirth for any delivery
other than a caesarean section, and for at least ninety-six hours after
a caesarean section.  Such coverage for maternity care shall include the
services of a doula and the services of a midwife licensed pursuant to
article one hundred forty of the education law,practicing consistent
with section sixty-nine hundred fifty- one of the education law and
affiliated or practicing in conjunction with a facility licensed pursu-
ant to article twenty-eight of the public health law, but no insurer
shall be required,to pay for duplicative routine services, actually
provided by both a licensed midwife and a physician.

§ 3. Subparagraph (A) of paragraph 1 of subsection (c) of section 4303
of the insurance law, as amended by chapter 238 of the laws of 2010, is
amended to read as follows: (A) Every contract issued by a corporation
subject to the provisions of this article which provides hospital
service, medical expense indemnity or both shall provide coverage for
maternity care including hospital, surgical or medical care to the same
extent that hospital service, medical expense indemnity or both are
provided for illness or disease under the contract. Such maternity care
coverage, other than coverage for perinatal complications, shall include
inpatient hospital coverage for mother and for newborn for at least
forty-eight hours after childbirth for any delivery other than a caesa-
rean section, and for at least ninety-six hours following a caesarean
section. Such coverage for maternity care shall include the services of
a doula and the services of a midwife licensed pursuant to article one
hundred forty of the education law, practicing consistent with section
sixty-nine hundred fifty-one of the education law and affiliated or
practicing in conjunction with a facility licensed pursuant to article
twenty-eight of the public health law, but no insurer shall be required
to pay for duplicative routine services actually provided by both a
licensed midwife and a physician.

§ 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law and shall apply to all policies and contracts
issued, renewed, modified, altered or amended on or after such date.
Effective immediately the addition, amendment or repeal of any rule or.
regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective
date are authorized to be made on or before such date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

This bill shall require all health insurance companies to provide cover-
age for doula care services. A doula is a trained professional who
provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a
mother before, during and shortly after childbirth to help her achieve
the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible.  Countless scien-
tific trials examining doula care demonstrate remarkably improved phys-
ical and psychological outcomes for both mother and baby. For example, a
Cochrane Review, Continuous Support for Women During Childbirth, found
an unusually high number of positive birth outcomes when a doula was
present. With the support of a doula, women were less likely to have
pain-relief medications administered and less likely to have a cesarean
birth.

Regardless of the socioeconomic status, a woman should not be subject to
limited birthing support. This legislation will offer all mothers the
opportunity to be cared for by licensed doulas.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2019-20: print number A2344; referred to insurance

2017-18: print number A10505; referred to insurance

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become a law and shall apply to all policies and contracts
issued, renewed, modified, altered or amended on or after such date.
Effective immediately the addition, amendment or repeal of any rule or
regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective
date are authorized to be made on or before such date