PA Black Maternal Health Caucus celebrates progress on legislation

House Bills 1608 and 2127 were reported out of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee to the full Senate for a vote

Rep. Morgan B. Cephas October 1, 2024 | 3:01 PM

HARRISBURG, Oct. 1 -- #MOMNIBUS update! Two of our MOMNIBUS bills were approved in the PA Senate Health and Human Services Committee today, putting them in position to be considered by the full Senate as early as next week! We’re so close to getting these important measures across the finish line!

House Bill 1608, introduced by PA Black Maternal Health Caucus co-chair Morgan Cephas, would extend Medicaid coverage to doula services while also creating a Doula Advisory Board. Under the bill, Medicaid would reimburse certified doulas for providing childbirth education and support services, including physical and emotional support, during pregnancy, labor and delivery and up to one year postpartum.

House Bill 2127, introduced by state Reps. Elizabeth Fiedler, PA Black Maternal Health Caucus co-chair Gina H. Curry and state Rep. Lisa Borowski, would empower the Department of Health to create a public awareness campaign about the symptoms and effects of postpartum depression and DOH to centralize access to organizations that provide counseling for PPD on their website and on fact sheets available in doctor’s offices.

The bills now go to the full Senate for consideration.