ILLINOIS (25News Now) – A 2023 case study from a Congressional committee showed approximately 40% of births in the United States were funded through Medicaid.
The program helped 60% of births in the U.S. for Black, Indigenous and People of Color.
Currently, the Biden Administration is working to expand and diversify the perinatal workforce to allow doula services to be reimbursed through Medicaid.
Doctors say having this care person at a woman’s side during her pregnancy, the actual birth and postpartum can dramatically and statistically help save lives.
“It is so important. The doulas are such huge support,” begins Dr. Rahmat Na’allah, MD, a professor of Clinical Family Medicine at the University of Illinois College of Medicine and physician at Carle Health in Peoria.
“There was a big study done on women who have doulas during their labor and those who didn’t. Women who have doulas had lower C-section rates. Can you imagine that?” said Dr. Na’Allah.
“It can mean the difference between life or death in some cases,” agrees Dr. Ndidiamaka Amutah-Onukagha, Ph.D., MPH, founder of the Center for Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice.
“We know women who have doulas have better outcomes. Women who have doulas can initiate and sustain breastfeeding. They are less likely to have a low-birth weight baby,” she says.
Doctors and scientists both agree.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health’s comprehensive 2023 Illinois Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Report, Black women were more likely to die from pregnancy-related medical conditions.
Discrimination played a role in 2 out of 5 pregnancy-related deaths.
Health leaders say having a doula present can reverse these numbers.
Yhwdith Yasharahla, a certified life-based doula and midwifery student talks about her experience,
“There are a lot of things she needs right after she has a baby. She’s bleeding. She’s anxious. You just pumped a bunch of medications she’s not used to. The doulas work as your eyes and your ears where you can’t necessarily put your eyes and ears,” Yasharahla said.
Women who utilize doulas also have better outcomes for both the mom and the baby.
Doulas serve as a liaison between the mother and the health care providers.
The problem for many women is the cost.
Hiring a doula for the duration of one’s pregnancy and the months to follow can range anywhere between $800 and $3,000 on average in Illinois.
“For both of my kids, I paid out of pocket for my doula,” says Dr. Amutah-Onukagha, “she was able to go to my prenatal care appointment. She was there in the labor and delivery room. She came to see me after I had the baby and made sure everything was okay. Now states are starting to reimburse doulas for their time. They are being reimbursed as providers so they can make a living wage and support more birthing people.”
At the federal level, there is money available for states’ legislatures to take advantage of this reimbursement.
“It’s a national program I wish more states will take up to be able to make sure doulas are reimbursed. Doulas are a tremendous asset to the Black maternal health crisis.” said Dr. Amutah-Onukagha.
It will cost the State of Illinois an estimated $15 million to change the Medicaid law and reimburse doulas.
Applications for doulas to become certified Medicaid providers will be open shortly. There is still work to be finalized on the certification process out of Southern Illinois University.
Once the program starts, doulas who are certified will be reimbursed for services conducted since Feb. 1, 2024.
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