BILL NUMBER: S2137

SPONSOR: RAMOS
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to professional
certification of doulas

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This bill amends the public health law to provide the requirements for
professional certification for certified doulas.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends article 25 of the public health law by adding a new
section 2509.

It provides the definitions of certified doulas and certified doula
services and states that only a doula certified under this article shall
be authorized to use the title of certified doula.
              

It provides requirements for certification including filing an applica-
tion with the department; completing an educational program or submit-
ting evidence of certification from an education program that is deter-
mined to be in accordance with the commissioner's regulations; passing
an examination; being at least eighteen years old; being of good moral
character as defined by the department; and paying a fee.

It also clarifies that nothing in this section authorizes a certified
doula to engage in any act within the scope of practice of any other
profession under title eight of the education law or any other law,
unless the certified doula would be otherwise authorized to do so by
law.

Section two provides the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

A recent report released by America's Health Rankings ranked New York
State 30th in the nation for its maternal mortality rate.  Furthermore,
racial disparities exist, with four times as many African American women
as white women dying in childbirth. Severe maternal morbidity also chal-
lenges the public health community, where racial and ethnic disparities
exist as well.

Investment in the prevention of maternal mortality and severe maternal
morbidity is crucial to saving the lives of mothers and improving quali-
ty of life for mothers, their children, their families, and their commu-
nities.

Research suggests that doulas are effective in improving maternal health
outcomes. Results from a 2008 study published in the American Journal of
Obstetrics and Gynecology suggested that having support in labor,
including with a doula, was among the most effective of the 41 birth
practices. Doula support is associated with spontaneous vaginal birth, a
shorter labor time, lower odds of preterm birth, and better neonatal
health. Furthermore, a study published in the American Journal of
Managed Care in August 2014 found that cesarean section deliveries occur
less frequently among doula-assisted births. The study has also indi-
cated that African-American and low-income patients are less likely to
have access to doulas.

In an effort to combat maternal mortality and improve the health of
newborns in New York State, Governor Cuomo introduced a series of initi-
atives including a pilot program that will allow doulas to be reimbursed
for providing services, which would make doula services more accessible
through overcoming income obstacles.

In order to standardize who may be reimbursed for doula services, this
legislation provides the definition of a certified doula and states that
only a doula certified under this article shall be authorized to use the
title of certified doula. Furthermore, it outlines the requirements for
certification including age restrictions, education and examination
requirements.

Ensuring that certified doulas are properly trained and credentialed so
that they are able to deliver the support and services that are so valu-
able to patients is essential. Additionally, certification will bring
greater awareness to the critical work of doulas, which may increase
availability and access to doula support services.

Note that the bill does not create an exclusive scope of practice. It
creates the title "certified doula," provides for becoming a certified
doula, and restricts use of the title.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

A.11147, referred to health, 2018

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None to the state.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Ninetieth day after it becomes a law.