§ 27-18-87. Perinatal doulas.
(a) As used in this section, "doula� or "perinatal doula� means a trained professional
providing continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to a pregnant
individual, from antepartum, intrapartum, and up to the first twelve (12) months of
the postpartum period. Doulas also provide assistance by referring childbearing individuals
to community-based organizations and certified and licensed perinatal professionals
in multiple disciplines.
(b) Every individual or group health insurance contract, or every individual or group
hospital or medical expense insurance policy, plan, or group policy delivered, issued
for delivery, or renewed in this state on or after July 1, 2022, shall provide coverage
for the services of perinatal doulas in accordance with each health insurer's respective
principles and mechanisms of reimbursement, credentialing, and contracting, if the
services are within the perinatal doulas' area of professional competence as defined
by the doula certification standard developed and maintained by the Rhode Island certification
board in collaboration with the department of health, and are currently reimbursed
when rendered by any other healthcare provider. No insurer or hospital or medical
service corporation may require supervision, signature, or referral by any other healthcare
provider as a condition of reimbursement, except when those requirements are also
applicable to other categories of healthcare providers. No insurer or hospital or
medical service corporation or patient may be required to pay for duplicate services
actually rendered by both a perinatal doula and any other healthcare provider.
(c) Every individual or group health insurance contract, or every individual or group
hospital or medical expense insurance policy, plan, or group policy delivered, issued
for delivery, or renewed in this state that is required to cover perinatal doula services,
as defined in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, shall report utilization and
cost information related to perinatal doula services to the office of the health insurance
commissioner on or before July 1, 2023, and each July 1 thereafter. The office of
the health insurance commissioner shall define the utilization and cost information
required to be reported.
(d) This section shall not apply to insurance coverage providing benefits for:
(1) Hospital confinement indemnity;
(2) Disability income;
(3) Accident only;
(4) Long-term care;
(5) Medicare supplement;
(6) Limited benefit health;
(7) Specified disease indemnity;
(8) Sickness or bodily injury or death by accident or both; and
(9) Other limited benefit policies.