North Carolina SB 964: Expanded Acc. to Doulas and Midwives/BC Lic.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 964

Short Title: Expanded Acc. to Doulas and Midwives/BC Lic. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Burgin and Chitlik (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
May 4, 2026
*S964-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO REQUIRE NC MEDICAID TO COVER DOULA SERVICES DURING 2
PREGNANCY AND THE POSTPARTUM PERIOD, TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR 3
SUPPORT SERVICES TO THE DOULA WORKFORCE, TO ESTABLISH THE 4
CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL MIDWIVES LICENSING ACT, AND TO ESTABLISH A 5
LICENSURE PROCESS AND ANNUAL LICENSE FEES FOR BIRTH CENTERS. 6
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 7
SECTION 1.(a) The Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health 8
Benefits (DHB), shall seek approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 9
(CMS) to implement Medicaid coverage of certain healthcare services provided by a doula. DHB 10
shall develop, in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of 11
Public Health, the parameters of services to be covered, including updating applicable clinical 12
coverage policies, developing appropriate reimbursement for covered services provided by a 13
doula, and determining provider credentialing requirements for participation in the NC Medicaid 14
program. In determining provider credentialing requirements, DHB shall consider education and 15
experience in the following areas: 16
(1) Basic newborn care. 17
(2) Childbirth education. 18
(3) Client self-advocacy and empowerment techniques. 19
(4) Common medical interventions, including risks, benefits, and decision 20
making. 21
(5) Coping strategies and nonmedical comfort measures during labor and birth. 22
(6) Lactation support, education, and infant feeding. 23
(7) Community resource referrals. 24
(8) Cultural awareness and cross-cultural communication. 25
SECTION 1.(b) The coverage required by this section shall be implemented as soon 26
as practicable upon approval by CMS. DHB shall report to the Joint Legislative Oversight 27
Committee on Medicaid no later than March 1, 2027, regarding the details of the Medicaid 28
coverage of healthcare services provided by a doula, the specific reimbursement for these 29
services, and the estimated recurring cost to the State of providing this coverage. 30
SECTION 2.(a) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of 31
Health and Human Services, Division of Health Benefits, the sum of one million dollars 32
($1,000,000) in recurring funds and associated receipts beginning with the 2026-2027 fiscal year 33
to implement the Medicaid-related changes outlined in this act. 34
SECTION 2.(b) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of 35
Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, the sum of five hundred fifty thousand 36

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 964-First Edition
dollars ($550,000) in recurring funds beginning with the 2026-2027 fiscal year to provide support 1
services and technical assistance to the doula workforce. 2
SECTION 3. Chapter 90 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Article 3
to read: 4
"Article 10B. 5
"Certified Professional Midwives. 6
"§ 90-178.10. Title. 7
This Article may be cited as the "Accessing Certified Professional Midwives Act." 8
"§ 90-178.11. Definitions. 9
The following definitions apply in this Article: 10
(1) Antepartal. – Occurring during pregnancy. 11
(2) Certified Professional Midwife (CPM). – A person who has obtained national 12
certification from the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM). 13
(3) Collaboration. – The process by which a Certified Professional Midwife and 14
a physician or other appropriate health care provider jointly manage the care 15
of a client, as defined by Council rule. 16
(4) Consultation. – The exchange of information and advice regarding the client's 17
condition and indicated treatment with a licensed physician or certified nurse 18
midwife. 19
(5) Council. – The North Carolina Council of Certified Professional Midwives, a 20
subcommittee of the Division of Health Service Regulation. 21
(6) Department. – The North Carolina Department of Health and Human 22
Services. 23
(7) Division. – The Division of Health Service Regulation within the Department 24
of Health and Human Services to which the North Carolina Council of 25
Certified Professional Midwives reports. 26
(8) Health care provider. – As defined in G.S. 90-21.11. 27
(9) ICM. – The International Confederation of Midwives. 28
(10) Intrapartal. – Occurring during the process of giving birth. 29
(11) Licensed physician. – A physician duly licensed in this State to practice 30
medicine under Article 1 of this Chapter. 31
(12) Licensee. – A Certified Professional Midwife who holds the CPM credential 32
and is licensed to practice midwifery under this Article. 33
(13) Midwifery. – The provision of primary health or maternity care to 34
childbearing people and infant