Sponsors (2)
The bill creates a five‑year VA pilot to provide up to 10 doula sessions and build VA maternity support capacity—likely improving maternal outcomes and equity for veterans—while increasing federal costs and risking uneven access, insufficient session limits, administrative burden, and potential low provider pay.
Pregnant and postpartum veterans will gain access to up to 10 doula sessions through a five‑year VA pilot, giving direct birth support services they previously lacked.
The pilot expressly targets maternal mental health for veterans at elevated risk, which could reduce postpartum depression and PTSD symptoms for participating veterans.
Integrating doula services into VA Whole Health may reengage postpartum veterans with VA care, improving continuity of care and follow‑up after birth.
The pilot will increase VA program spending over five years, raising federal costs that are ultimately paid by taxpayers.
Limiting care to 10 doula sessions per veteran may be inadequate for some patients, restricting support for those who need more intensive or longer-term services.
Pilot implementation could vary by VISN and eligible provider participation, producing uneven access depending on location and local provider involvement.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires VA to pilot doula services for covered veterans, integrate them into the Whole Health model, and measure birth and mental health outcomes.
Requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to set up a pilot program, within one year, to provide doula services to covered veterans and measure effects on birth and mental health outcomes. The pilot will expand the VA’s Whole Health model, include all types of doulas, consult veteran and community stakeholders, run in selected Veterans Integrated Service Networks (including frontier areas and networks with high and low shares of female veterans), and allow eligible entities and veterans to participate with up to 10 doula care sessions per covered veteran.
Introduced March 26, 2026 by Cory Anthony Booker · Last progress March 26, 2026