“A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a pilot program to furnish doula services to veterans.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section establishes a pilot program, to commence not later than one year after enactment, to furnish doula services (up to 10 sessions per covered veteran: 3-4 prenatal, 1 during labor and delivery, and 3-4 postpartum, some via VA Video Connect) to pregnant covered veterans (i.e., those eligible under the Veterans Community Care Program, 38 U.S.C. §1703) through eligible entities under the Whole Health model. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must (1) consider all doula types, including traditional and community-based; (2) consult organizations representing veterans (including those disproportionately impacted by poor maternal health), community-based doulas, and health equity experts; and (3) carry out the program in the three Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) with the highest percentage of enrolled female veterans, the three VISNs with the lowest such percentage, and at least one VISN in a frontier state serving high-risk populations for maternal mental health disorders (including American Indian or Alaska Native veterans). The Office of Women’s Health must administer the program (including onsite assessments), issue guidelines training doulas on military sexual trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder, and recommend payment amounts to the Secretary; program goals include improving maternal, mental health, and infant outcomes and reengaging postpartum veterans with VA care.