Amends TCA Title 63 and Title 71.

Under present law, medical assistance, including programs designed to enhance the efficient and economic operation of the medicaid program, must be provided to individuals who qualify for medicaid under state law. Such medical assistance may include skilled nursing home services, outpatient hospital services, and family planning services and supplies. This bill establishes, as a type of medical assistance, doula services performed by a person who has received a verification of certification to perform doula services from the department of health ("department").<br /> <br /> CERTIFICATION<br /> <br /> This bill requires the commissioner of health ("commissioner"), using the findings and recommendations of the doula services advisory committee, to establish by rule a process by which the department issues a verification of certification to a person who has demonstrated the following by providing proof of completion of a doula training program recognized by the commissioner:<br /> <br /> (1) An understanding of basic anatomy and physiology as related to pregnancy, the childbearing process, breastfeeding or chestfeeding, and the postpartum period;<br /> <br /> (2) The capacity to employ different strategies for providing emotional support, education, and resources during the perinatal period;<br /> <br /> (3) Knowledge of and the ability to assist families with utilizing a wide variety of nonclinical labor coping and physical comfort strategies;<br /> <br /> (4) An awareness of strategies to foster effective communication between clients, their families, support services, and healthcare providers; and<br /> <br /> (5) Knowledge of community-based, publicly and federally funded, and clinical resources available to the client for any need outside the doula's scope of practice.<br />