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A09035 Summary:

BILL NOA09035A
 
SAME ASSAME AS S07780-A
 
SPONSORBichotte Hermelyn
 
COSPNSRGunther, Ardila, Aubry, Davila, Lucas
 
MLTSPNSR
 
Add §2803-j-1, Pub Health L
 
Establishes a study regarding doula friendly work spaces; requires a report.
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A09035 Actions:

BILL NOA09035A
 
02/05/2024referred to health
05/17/2024amend and recommit to health
05/17/2024print number 9035a
05/21/2024reported referred to ways and means
06/04/2024reported referred to rules
06/04/2024reported
06/04/2024rules report cal.402
06/04/2024substituted by s7780a
 S07780 AMEND=A BROUK
 12/01/2023REFERRED TO RULES
 01/03/2024REFERRED TO WOMEN'S ISSUES
 02/06/20241ST REPORT CAL.353
 02/07/20242ND REPORT CAL.
 02/12/2024ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
 02/26/2024AMENDED ON THIRD READING 7780A
 05/22/2024PASSED SENATE
 05/22/2024DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
 05/22/2024referred to ways and means
 06/04/2024substituted for a9035a
 06/04/2024ordered to third reading rules cal.402
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A09035 Memo:

NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A9035A
 
SPONSOR: Bichotte Hermelyn
  TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the public health law, in relation to doula friendly work spaces   PURPOSE: To increase the amount of information we have regarding the respectful integration of doula services in birthing delivery teams and healthcare practices and facilities and to recommend metrics for more formally Designating Doula Friendly Spaces   SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: Section 1. Legislative Findings. Section 2. Mandates the department of health to prepare a comprehensive study and report on the integration of doula services in birthing deliv- ery teams and healthcare delivery facilities and recommend metrics to formally designate doula friendly spaces. Section 3. Establishes the effective date.   JUSTIFICATION: Maternal mortality has a devastating impact on the State of New York. Providing improved access to community doula care and support services is a proven way to address maternal morbidity and maternal mental health, and to reduce birth complications for the mother and baby, particularly in vulnerable patient populations like the Medicaid popu- lation. A doula is a trained, non-clinical professional who provides physical, emotional, and informational support to a pregnant person before, during, and after childbirth. Doula friendly institutions consistently demonstrate support of the doula's role in its full scope and integrate doulas into the birthing team. Doula friendliness is grounded in policies and practices that reflect an understanding of the benefits of doula care, and actively create a space where patients, doulas, and clinicians collaborate to ensure the best birth and experience for the patient. Based on challenges identified during the New York State Doula Pilot Program (2019-2023) and feedback offered by community doulas at the(2023) New York State Department of Health's Doula Medicaid Services Benefit Stakeholder Meetings, this Designating Doula Friendly Spaces study and report would expand state knowledge of the ways doulas are(and are not) welcomed and respected as participants in birthing delivery teams in healthcare facilities across New York. The study would also allow New York to identify cultural and linguistic imbalances that may hinder the communication between doulas and birthing people and other members of a birthing delivery team that can result in the prevention of disrespectful interactions, bullying, and discrimi- nation from care providers. This study and proposal of recommendations for formal metrics for Doula Friendly Spaces would allow New York to develop strategies to more rigorously test and measure outcomes for a statewide doula friendly designation that would be relevant in facilities across the geographic diversity of the state. In light of New York's decision to add doula care benefits to its Medicaid program in 2024, creating respectful and collaborative work environments for doulas is of critical importance. The outcome of this study and recommendation efforts will be to encour- age and incentivise birthing delivery teams and healthcare facilities to better integrate doula care into standard birthing practices as a way to address and combat maternal health disparities throughout the state, particularly in the Medicaid population.   LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 2023-24: New Bill   FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: To be determined.   EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day it shall have become a law.
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A09035 Text:



 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                         9035--A
 
                   IN ASSEMBLY
 
                                    February 5, 2024
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced  by M. of A. BICHOTTE HERMELYN, GUNTHER, ARDILA, AUBRY, DAVI-
          LA, LUCAS -- read once and referred to  the  Committee  on  Health  --
          committee  discharged,  bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and
          recommitted to said committee
 
        AN ACT to amend the public health law, in  relation  to  doula  friendly
          work spaces

          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
 
     1    Section 1. Legislative findings.  The  legislature  acknowledges  that
     2  doulas  face  exclusionary  measures  in gaining recognition and overall
     3  integration within the maternal health continuum, such as hospitals  and
     4  birthing  centers. The legislature declares that the purpose of this act
     5  is to study and report on the integration of doula care and services  in
     6  the  healthcare  continuum  and to recommend best practices to designate
     7  doula friendly spaces in New York state.
     8    § 2. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 2803-j-1
     9  to read as follows:
    10    § 2803-j-1. Designating doula friendly spaces study. 1. The department
    11  shall conduct a study to examine and evaluate current practices  on  the
    12  integration  of  doula  care,  services,  and  support  within  birthing
    13  centers, hospitals, and other healthcare delivery facilities. This study
    14  shall report  such  findings  through  comprehensive  metrics  on  doula
    15  friendliness  in facilities across the geographic diversity of the state
    16  that are licensed under  this  article.    Factors  and  metrics  to  be
    17  reported by the study shall include but not be limited to:
    18    (a) Identifying and engaging with doula led and centered organizations
    19  on their current programs regarding doula integration;
    20    (b) Identifying hospitals and birthing centers that are doula friendly
    21  in their operation;
    22    (c)  Identifying successful doula integration programs and initiatives
    23  in hospitals and birthing centers in New York state; and
    24    (d) Identifying successful doula integration programs and  initiatives
    25  in other states.
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD13598-03-4

        A. 9035--A                          2
 
     1    2. The study shall also make recommendations on best practices for the
     2  state  to  help  facilitate  doula integration and doula friendliness in
     3  hospitals and birthing centers. Such recommendations shall include,  but
     4  not be limited to:
     5    (a)  Best  practices that doulas currently operating in New York state
     6  recommend for proper integration;
     7    (b) Criteria for hospitals and birthing  centers  for  integration  of
     8  doulas and doula care into the varying processes of birth;
     9    (c)  Criteria  for how the state should best support the formal desig-
    10  nation of doula friendly places;
    11    (d) Criteria for how hospitals and birthing centers shall give  doulas
    12  visitor status or equal status in the facilities;
    13    (e) Criteria for doula presence in the birthing room;
    14    (f) Criteria for inclusion of doulas in the healthcare continuum;
    15    (g)  Best  practices and criteria for the collection of data regarding
    16  doula friendliness and integration; and
    17    (h) Best practices for the reporting of metrics for doula friendliness
    18  and integration.
    19    3. On or before December thirty-first, two thousand  twenty-five,  the
    20  department  shall  submit  a  final  report  containing all findings and
    21  recommendations to the governor, the temporary president of the  senate,
    22  and the speaker of the assembly.
    23    §  3.  This  act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
    24  have become a law.
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