Mamas First Act

Key Points

• The bill would require every state Medicaid program to cover services from doulas, midwives, tribal midwives, and lactation support providers, including care before, during, and after childbirth.
• Congress says the bill responds to a maternal mortality crisis that hits Black and Native American women far harder than other groups, with Black women dying at more than three times the rate of White women.
• Patients would pay nothing out of pocket for these services, since the bill blocks states from charging premiums, copays, or other cost sharing for doula, midwife, and lactation care.
• The bill sets specific qualification rules, doulas need certification and continuing education or client and provider references, while midwives and lactation providers need state authorization or recognized training standards.
• If enacted, the new coverage would generally start on January 1, 2027, though states that need to pass their own legislation first would get extra time to comply.