DOULA for VA Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- S. 4225
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-26: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-27T14:36:28Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The DOULA for VA Act of 2026 (S. 4225) requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to create a five-year pilot program providing doula services—non-medical emotional, physical, and educational support during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum—to enrolled pregnant or recently pregnant women veterans. The goal is to improve maternal health, mental health, infant outcomes, and veteran experiences with VA maternity care, addressing the growing number of women veterans (about 2.1 million, with usage rising significantly).
Key Provisions
- Establishment and Timeline: Pilot begins within one year of enactment, runs for five years (fiscal years 2027–2032), expanding VA's Whole Health model (a holistic care approach).
- Locations: Implemented in:
- 3 Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs, regional VA systems) with the highest percentage of enrolled female veterans.
- 3 VISNs with the lowest percentage.
- At least 1 VISN in a frontier state (sparse population areas) serving high-risk groups, like American Indian/Alaska Native veterans with elevated maternal mental health risks.
- Services: Up to 10 doula sessions per veteran (3–4 prenatal, 1 during labor/delivery, 3–4 postpartum; postpartum via secure VA Video Connect app); doulas act as advocates alongside medical teams. Payment capped at $3,500 per doula per veteran.
- Administration:
- Overseen by VA's Office of Women's Health.
- Includes Doula Service Coordinators at participating facilities to manage coordination, payments, and session tracking.
- Training guidelines for doulas on military sexual trauma and PTSD.
- Open to any interested eligible entities (providers of VA maternity care) and covered veterans (enrolled pregnant/recently pregnant women).
- Consultation and Goals: Involves input from veterans' groups, doulas, health equity experts; aims to enhance outcomes, integrate services, support birthing plans, and reengage postpartum veterans.
- Reporting and Funding: Annual reports to Congress, final report with recommendations for expansion; authorizes necessary appropriations.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a new pilot program under VA's Whole Health model and community care authority (e.g., section 1703 of title 38, U.S. Code), with no explicit amendments to prior laws.
- Adds specific roles like Doula Service Coordinators and VA-specific doula training, building on existing maternity coordination without altering core VA eligibility or enrollment rules.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: VA must allocate resources for administration, training, payments (up to $3,500/veteran), technical assistance, and evaluations across 7+ VISNs; Office of Women's Health gains expanded oversight.
- Citizens: Improves maternity support for ~600,000+ women veterans (fastest-growing group), targeting high-risk subgroups (e.g., older mothers, Black/African-American, mental health conditions); may enhance postpartum reengagement with VA care.
- International Relations: None.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Women veterans: Primary beneficiaries, especially pregnant/enrolled ones in selected VISNs and high-risk groups.
- VA facilities and staff: Including Maternity Care Coordinators and new Doula Service Coordinators.
- Doulas and eligible entities: Community-based providers partnering with VA.
- Veterans' organizations and health equity experts: Consulted for design/implementation.
- Congress: Receives reports for oversight and potential expansion decisions.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Relies on existing VA authorities for community care; emphasizes evidence-based pilot with congressional reporting, enabling data-driven permanence.
- Constitutional: No apparent issues; supports equal protection in health care for veterans.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (Sens. Booker and Murkowski); promotes health equity and addresses maternal disparities without mandates, focusing on voluntary pilot in diverse regions.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-26: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 2026-03-26: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Delivering Optimally Urgent Labor Access for Veterans Affairs Act of 2026 — issued 2026-03-26 — PDF (10 pages)