Testifying in support of the Doula Bill

Hello all, and happy new week! 

I'm writing with an update on the doula bill, An Act relative to Medicaid coverage for doula services (H.1240/S.782). Click here for a fact sheet, and here for talking points. The bill would require MassHealth to cover doula services, and would create the necessary infrastructure for MassHealth's doula coverage program to succeed. 

• The bill is scheduled for a hearing on September 20, 10am-3pm.  The deadline to sign up to testify (via zoom or in person) is this Thursday at 4pm. 
• The doula bill and An act to advance health equity will be heard at the same hearing. We are also very supportive of the act to advance health equity- more to come on that later. 
• We are leaning on doulas and birthing individuals for oral testimony, but if you or your organization is planning to testify at the hearing, please let me know! You can email me at ksymmonds@mlri.org. 
• If you know others who might be interested in testifying (particularly doulas, or mothers who had a doula or wished they'd had a doula- or others with compelling stories), please feel free to connect them with me!

I will send another email later this week with information about how to submit written testimony (including sample testimony). We would appreciate any and all supportive written testimony! 

Best,

Kate