Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-WI), Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) Cory Booker (D-N.J), and Congresswomen Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.), Alma Adams (D-N.C.) introduced the Mamas First Act, which would expand access to maternal health care for mothers who rely on Medicaid.

“Across this nation, 40 percent of moms depend on Medicaid when they give birth. Instead of gutting and sabotaging Medicaid, we need to strengthen it so we can save lives. The Mamas First Act would provide mothers with access to evidence-based supportive care that can lead to healthier outcomes for them and their babies. At a time when stark disparities in maternal mortality continue to hit our communities hard, I am thrilled to have such incredible colleagues and advocates supporting the Mamas First Act and the ongoing fight to save lives,” said Congresswoman Gwen Moore.

This bill serves as a bold step to address our country’s maternal mortality crisis by expanding Medicaid coverage to include doula, midwife, and lactation care.

The Mama's First Act will require Medicaid coverage of all types of lactation professionals who have completed at least 20 hours of foundational training based on the World Health Organization/United Nations Children's Fund lactation counseling training blueprint, or an equivalent training; or is recognized within any category on the Lactation Support Provider Descriptor chart published by the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee-affiliated Lactation Support Provider Constellation.

The full text of the legislation can be found here. ALPP will continue to share legislative advocacy opportunities with its certificants as this bill moves forward.