§1059.1. Legislative findings; Louisiana Doula Registry Board; purpose; composition; duties of the board; rulemaking authority

            A.(1) The legislature hereby finds and declares that research indicates maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, infant mortality, preterm birth, and unexpected outcomes of pregnancy and birth resulting in significant health consequences are rising in the United States, and that these outcomes occur more frequently in Louisiana than in other states. Louisiana has the highest maternal death rate in the nation and the second highest infant death rate in the nation.

            (2) The benefits of doula care have been documented in numerous studies including the 2017 Cochrane Review of twenty-six trials of continuous labor support and doula care involving over fifteen thousand women in seventeen different countries. The numerous benefits of doula care include decreased cesarean sections, increased spontaneous vaginal births, shortened duration of birth, increased maternal satisfaction postpartum, improved breastfeeding rates, and lower rates of preterm labor and low birth weight.

            B.(1)(a) The legislature hereby creates within the Louisiana Department of Health the Louisiana Doula Registry Board, hereafter referred to in this Section as the "doula registry board", for the purpose of reviewing and approving doula registration to allow for health insurance reimbursement of doula services.

            (b) The doula registry board shall create the criteria for the registration application, review submitted doula registration applications, and grant registration status to doulas seeking health insurance reimbursement to promote safe and equitable care for every mother and every birth in this state.

            (2) For purposes of this Section, "doula" means an individual who has been trained to provide physical, emotional, and educational support, but not medical or midwifery care, to pregnant and birthing women and their families before, during, and after childbirth.

            C. The doula registry board shall perform all of the following tasks:

            (1) Review applications for doulas to register to receive health insurance reimbursement in Louisiana.

            (2) Approve applications to designate registered doula status.

            (3) Notify applicants of approval or denial of doula registration status.

            (4) Maintain a statewide registry of doulas approved for health insurance reimbursement in Louisiana.

            D.(1) The doula registry board shall be composed of the following members:

            (a) One representative of an organization providing doula services for people giving birth in Louisiana in Region 1 appointed by the medical director of the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative.

            (b) One representative of an organization providing doula services for people giving birth in Louisiana in Region 2 appointed by the medical director of the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative.

            (c) One representative of an organization providing doula services for people giving birth in Region 3 appointed by the medical director of the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative.

            (d) One representative of an organization providing doula services for people giving birth in Louisiana in Region 4 appointed by the medical director of the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative.

            (e) One representative of an organization providing doula services for people giving birth in Louisiana in Region 5 appointed by the medical director of the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative.

            (f) One representative of an organization providing doula services for people giving birth in Louisiana in Region 6 appointed by the medical director of the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative.

            (g) One representative of an organization providing doula services for people giving birth in Louisiana in Region 7 appointed by the medical director of the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative.

            (h) One representative of an organization providing doula services for people giving birth in Louisiana in Region 8 appointed by the medical director of the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative.

            (i) One representative of an organization providing doula services for people giving birth in Louisiana in Region 9 appointed by the medical director of the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative.

            (j) One person with lived experience having used doula services for at least two births.

            (k) One doula with lactation training.

            (l) One representative from Sista Midwife Productions.

            (m) One representative from Community Birth Companion.

            (n) One representative from Birthmark Doula Collective.

            (o) One representative from H.E.R. Institute.

            (2) The doula registry board shall elect from among its members a practicing doula as chairperson.

            (3) Members of the doula registry board shall serve without compensation for up to two years with the option for reappointment.

            (4) The doula registry board shall hold quarterly public meetings unless otherwise provided by vote of the doula registry board or by order of the chairperson.

            (5) The doula registry board may establish subcommittees and appoint persons to those subcommittees, including persons who are not board members, nor voting members, as it deems necessary and appropriate to accomplish its goals.

            E. Members of the nonvoting subcommittee shall include and are not limited to all of the following:

            (1) One representative of New Orleans Breastfeeding Center.

            (2) One representative of March of Dimes.

            (3) One representative of National Birth Equity Collaborative.

            (4) One representative of Institute of Women & Ethnic Studies.

            (5) One obstetrician with demonstrated work rooted in community, health equity, and training in equitable practices.

            (6) One certified professional midwife.

            (7) One certified nurse midwife.

            (8) One community nurse practitioner.

            (9) One representative from Louisiana Medicaid.

            (10) One representative from Louisiana Hospital Association.

            (11) One representative from each private health insurer in Louisiana as determined by the doula registry board.

            F. The regional representatives described in Paragraph (D)(1) of this Section shall be appointed from the regions specified on the Administrative Regions and Districts map of the Louisiana Department of Health, hereinafter referred to as the "department".

            G. The department shall promulgate all such rules in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act as are necessary to implement the provisions of this Section.

            H. The department shall provide staff support to the doula registry board.

            I. Nothing in this Section prohibits any person from practicing as a doula in this state, regardless of whether such person is registered in accordance with the provisions of this Section.

            Acts 2021, No. 182, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2022.