Mamas First Act

The Mamas First Act seeks to significantly improve maternal and infant health outcomes by expanding Medicaid coverage for essential perinatal support services. It mandates that State Medicaid plans cover services provided by doulas, midwives, tribal midwives, and lactation support providers , recognizing their crucial role in reducing maternal mortality and morbidity. The bill defines specific criteria for these providers, ensuring quality and accessibility. For instance, doulas must be certified or have client/provider recommendations, while midwives can meet state authorization or international standards. Tribal midwives are recognized by their tribes, and lactation support providers must meet training or recognized categorization standards. A key provision of this legislation is the prohibition of cost-sharing for these newly covered services, including prenatal, labor, and postpartum care. This ensures that financial barriers do not prevent eligible individuals from accessing vital support during pregnancy and after childbirth. The Act highlights alarming statistics on maternal mortality, particularly among Black, Indigenous, and Hispanic women, and emphasizes that most maternal deaths are preventable. By integrating these culturally congruent care options into Medicaid, the bill aims to address disparities and promote healthier pregnancies and births across the United States, with an effective date of January 1, 2027.