Delaware to cover doula services under Medicaid, bereavement leave for pregnancy loss

Welcome to The Press Room, a weekly roundup of the major stories and happenings of the 2023 Delaware legislative year.

To mark the final week of the legislative year, The Press Room will be publishing every day. Here are the bills that passed in Legislative Hall on June 29, a dramatic night for the Delaware General Assembly.

As always, send story tips, feedback, ideas or gossip to me at mnewman@delawareonline.com.

Follow me on Twitter at @MereNewman.

Delaware Medicaid to cover doula services

Lawmakers, in a unanimous vote in both chambers, approved legislation for doula services to be covered by Medicaid starting in 2024.

Doula services have been shown to improve outcomes for maternal and infant health. Delaware, for decades, has struggled with high rates of maternal and infant mortality, particularly among Black residents.

When House Bill 80 passed the House of Representatives last week, Rep. Sherae'a Moore, a Democrat representing Middletown, spoke of how her doula was essential to her when she gave birth to her son just a few weeks ago. Her doula supported her when she felt her doctors did not.

​​The Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance, under the bill, will create a process for doulas to be certified in Delaware, as well as set a reimbursement rate that “supports a livable annual income for full-time practicing doulas.”

General Assembly looks to regulate medical debt collection practices

Large health care facilities, including hospitals, will no longer be allowed to use certain debt collection practices, according to the recently passed Senate Bill 8.

The legislation, which seeks to protect patients, will prevent facilities from charging interest and late fees, require the implementation of reasonable payment plans, limit the sale of debt to debt collectors and prevent the reporting of medical debt to consumer credit reporting agencies at least one year after the debt is incurred, among other provisions.

It returns to the Senate following a House amendment that made a technical correction.

Mental health legislation to help grieving students

Students, under House Bill 4, would have access to support and services following a traumatic event that affects a large portion of students, including the death of a member of the school community.

The Department of Education would be responsible for covering the cost of in-school grief counseling for students for at least 45 days.

If signed by Gov. John Carney, the legislation will be named Nolan’s Law, in honor of Nolan Witman, a Delaware teen who died by suicide last year. Delaware Online/The News Journal wrote about the activism that resulted from Witman’s death.

Delaware to cover bereavement leave for miscarriages

State employees who experience a miscarriage, pregnancy loss or stillbirth will have up to five days of paid leave to recover emotionally or physically, according to House Bill 65. It does not apply to school employees.

It came as the result of Samantha Hajek, a state employee who once worked in Legislative Hall, suffering a miscarriage last year. After her loss, she learned the state did not allow for any paid leave in these circumstances. The legislation will be named after her baby Sloane.

Sen. Kyra Hoffner, a Democrat representing Smyrna, spoke on the Senate floor of her late-term miscarriage years ago. She said she went to work the next day.

State employees, under recently passed House Bill 177, will also have five days of paid leave when an immediate family member dies. They previously had three.

Both bills need to be signed by the governor in order to become law.

Delaware still searching for its public health director

House lawmakers also passed House Bill 243, which would change state code to allow for the director of the Division of Public Health to also include non-physicians.

It comes at a time when Delaware has struggled to fill the role left vacant by Dr. Karyl Rattay, who departed nearly a year ago. The bill also allows for the director to appoint a physician or advanced practice registered nurse in situations when that medical experience is needed. It now heads to the Senate.

The provision would sunset after five years.

Josette Manning, the recently confirmed secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services, said filling this position was among her most immediate priorities. It now heads to the Senate.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware passes mental, maternal health bills as session nears end