Current through 2024 Legislative Session Act Chapter 531
Section 3553A - Coverage for doula services(a) "Doula services" means services provided by a trained doula and designed to provide physical, emotional, and educational support to pregnant and birthing persons, before, during, and after childbirth. "Doula services" include the following: (1) Support and assistance during labor and childbirth.(2) Prenatal and postpartum support and education.(3) Breastfeeding assistance and lactation support.(5) Support for a birthing person following loss of pregnancy.(b) All group and blanket health insurance policies, contracts, or certificates that are delivered, issued for delivery, renewed, extended, or modified in this State after December 31, 2025, shall provide coverage for doula services, when provided by a doula who is certified by the Delaware Certification Board, that includes all of the following: (1) Three prenatal visits of up to 90 minutes.(2) Three postpartum visits of up to 90 minutes.(3) Attendance through labor and birth.(c) Coverage must be provided for additional postpartum doula visits with a recommendation from a practitioner or clinician licensed under Title 24 acting within their scope of practice.(d)(1) Nothing in this section prevents the operation of policy provisions such as deductibles, coinsurance, allowable charge limitations, or coordination of benefits.(2) Carriers may require doulas to be certified or registered in the same manner required by the Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance under § 530 of Title 31.(e) This section does not apply to accident-only, specified disease, hospital indemnity, Medicare supplement, long-term care, disability income, or other limited benefit health insurance policies.Added by Laws 2023, ch. 420,s 2, eff. 9/24/2024.