Plain English Breakdown
The plain English breakdown is still being put together. The official documents below are already here.
HF3779 • 2026
Health plans required to cover doula services, commissioner of commerce required to defray the cost of coverage of doula services, doula services coverage language modified, and money appropriated.
Health plans required to cover doula services, commissioner of commerce required to defray the cost of coverage of doula services, doula services coverage language modified, and money appropriated.
Passed Legislature
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
Bill History
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2026-04-20
House
Authors added Curran; Moller; Finke; Frazier; Hanson, J.; Pursell; Freiberg; Youakim; and Kraft
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2026-03-02
House
Author added Sencer-Mura
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2026-02-26
House
Introduction and first reading, referred to Commerce Finance and Policy
Official Summary Text
Health plans required to cover doula services, commissioner of commerce required to defray the cost of coverage of doula services, doula services coverage language modified, and money appropriated.
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
A bill for an act relating to health insurance; requiring health plans to cover doula services; requiring the commissioner of commerce to defray the cost of coverage of doula services; modifying language relating to doula services coverage in the medical assistance program; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256B.0625, subdivision 28b; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 62Q. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: Section 1. new text begin [62Q.5205] COVERAGE OF DOULA SERVICES. new text end new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end new text begin Definitions. new text end new text begin (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given. new text end new text begin (b) "Certified doula" means a certified doula, as defined in section 148.995, of the mother's choice. new text end new text begin (c) "Childbirth education and support services" means emotional and physical support provided during pregnancy, labor, birth, and the postpartum period. new text end new text begin (d) "Doula services" means childbirth education and support services provided by a certified doula. new text end new text begin Subd. 2. new text end new text begin Required coverage. new text end new text begin All health plans must cover doula services. new text end new text begin Subd. 3. new text end new text begin Cost-sharing requirements. new text end new text begin A health plan must not impose any cost-sharing requirement on the coverage under this section, including but not limited to the following requirements: new text end new text begin (1) deductible; new text end new text begin (2) co-payment; or new text end new text begin (3) coinsurance. new text end new text begin Subd. 4. new text end new text begin Review and referral limitations. new text end new text begin A health plan must not impose any review or referral limitation on the coverage under this section, including but not limited to the following limitations: new text end new text begin (1) utilization review, as defined in section 62M.02; new text end new text begin (2) referral requirement; or new text end new text begin (3) delay period. new text end new text begin Subd. 5. new text end new text begin Quantity limitations. new text end new text begin A health plan must not impose any quantity limitation on the coverage under this section. new text end new text begin Subd. 6. new text end new text begin Application. new text end new text begin If the application of subdivision 3 before an enrollee has met their health plan's deductible would result in: (1) health savings account ineligibility under United States Code, title 26, section 223; or (2) catastrophic health plan ineligibility under United States Code, title 42, section 18022(e), then subdivision 3 applies to coverage under this section only after the enrollee has met the enrollee's health plan's deductible. new text end new text begin Subd. 7. new text end new text begin Reimbursement. new text end new text begin (a) The commissioner of commerce must reimburse health plan companies for coverage under this section, as required by Code of Federal Regulations, title 45, section 155.170. Reimbursement is available only for coverage that would not have been provided by the health plan without the requirements of this section. Treatments, services, supplies, and equipment covered by the health plan as of January 1, 2026, are ineligible for payments under this subdivision by the commissioner of commerce. new text end new text begin (b) Health plan companies must report to the commissioner of commerce quantified costs attributable to the additional benefit under this section in a format developed by the commissioner. A health plan's coverage as of January 1, 2026, must be used by the health plan company as the basis for determining whether coverage would not have been provided by the health plan for purposes of this subdivision. new text end new text begin (c) The commissioner of commerce must evaluate submissions and make payments to health plan companies as provided in Code of Federal Regulations, title 45, section 155.170. new text end new text begin Subd. 8. new text end new text begin Appropriation. new text end new text begin Beginning in fiscal year 2028, an amount necessary to make payments to health plan companies to defray the cost of providing coverage under this section is annually appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of commerce. The amount appropriated under this subdivision must include the administrative costs incurred by the commissioner to make the defrayal payments. new text end new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end new text begin This section is effective January 1, 2027, and applies to all health plans offered, issued, or sold on or after that date. new text end Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256B.0625, subdivision 28b, is amended to read: Subd. 28b. Doula services. new text begin (a) new text end Medical assistance covers doula services provided by a certified doula as defined in section 148.995, subdivision 2 , of the mother's choice. new text begin (b) Medical assistance must meet the requirements that would otherwise apply to a health plan under section 62Q.5205, except that medical assistance is not required to comply with any provision of section 62Q.5205, if compliance with the provision would: new text end new text begin (1) prevent the state from receiving federal financial participation for the coverage under this subdivision; or new text end new text begin (2) result in a lower level of coverage or reduced access to coverage for medical assistance enrollees. new text end new text begin (c) new text end For purposes of this section, "doula services" means childbirth education and support services, including emotional and physical support provided during pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum. The commissioner shall enroll doula agencies and individual treating doulas to provide direct reimbursement. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end new text begin This section is effective January 1, 2027. new text end