A Democratic bill with 12 Democratic cosponsors · See all 12 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Mamas First Act" amends the Social Security Act to require Medicaid to cover services provided by doulas, midwives, tribal midwives, and lactation support providers. This coverage includes prenatal, labor, and postpartum care delivered in various settings, including homes and via telehealth. The bill defines the qualifications for these providers and prohibits cost-sharing for these specific services. Most of these changes are set to take effect on January 1, 2027.
Yes· 3 of 26
- Scored +10
Would women be better off under this?
Directly improves maternal health access, outcomes, and financial affordability for women.
- Scored +9
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Directly benefits low-income individuals through expanded Medicaid coverage and zero cost-sharing.
- Scored +9
Would Black Americans be better off under this?
Specifically addresses the disproportionately high maternal mortality rate for Black women.
The opposite· 3 of 4
- Scored -4
Does this leave more decisions to the states?
Limits state flexibility in determining which services are covered under Medicaid.
- Scored -2
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?
Mandating additional Medicaid coverage typically increases government spending.
- Scored -2
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill expands mandatory Medicaid coverage for specific maternal health services.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Expanded Healthcare Access: People can receive prenatal, labor, and postpartum care from doulas, midwives, tribal midwives, and lactation support providers through Medicaid (Section 3(a)(1)).
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Increased Flexibility in Care: Services can be provided in multiple settings, such as the home, community, hospitals, birth centers, clinics, health units, or via telehealth (Section 3(a)(1)).
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Removal of Financial Barriers: The bill prohibits cost-sharing for services provided by these specific professionals, making the care more affordable for patients (Section 3(c)).
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Culturally Specific Care: The bill specifies that care should be provided in a "culturally congruent manner" (Section 3(a)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Delayed Implementation: Some people may have to wait beyond January 1, 2027, to access these benefits if their State plan requires State legislation to comply with the new requirements (Section 3(d)(2)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would women be better off under this? — Directly improves maternal health access, outcomes, and financial affordability for women. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Specifically addresses the disproportionately high maternal mortality rate for Black women. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Directly benefits low-income individuals through expanded Medicaid coverage and zero cost-sharing. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Explicitly covers tribal midwives and addresses high maternal mortality in Indigenous communities. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Improves access to culturally congruent maternal care for Hispanic women. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Supports tribal midwives and telehealth, which are critical for rural access. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — Increases general access to maternal health services via Medicaid. Would children be better off under this? — Better maternal care is associated with healthier birth weights and fewer complications for infants. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Increases access to maternal health services in urban Medicaid populations. Would white Americans be better off under this? — Increases general access to maternal health services for those qualifying for Medicaid. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Provides critical healthcare access for women of childbearing age. Would immigrants be better off under this? — May benefit immigrants who qualify for Medicaid in certain states. Would LGBTQ people be better off under this? — Expands options for gender-affirming and inclusive maternal support. Would business owners be better off under this? — Supports professional doulas and midwives operating small businesses.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — Significantly expands access to prenatal, labor, and postpartum care for Medicaid recipients. Does this put more money into Medicaid, the health coverage for people on low incomes? — Mandates that Medicaid cover doula, midwife, and lactation support services. Does this make mental health care easier to get? — Doulas provide emotional support during pregnancy and postpartum. Does this lower what a hospital stay costs? — Midwifery-led care is associated with lower rates of intervention and cost savings.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — Targets maternal mortality disparities that disproportionately affect Black and Indigenous women. Does this narrow the gap between how men and women are treated? — Specifically focuses on improving health outcomes and support for women during childbirth. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Reduces out-of-pocket healthcare costs for low-income pregnant individuals by prohibiting cost-sharing.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — Includes coverage for tribal midwives and telehealth, which benefits rural and indigenous communities.
- Education And Technology
- Does this get reliable internet to more people? — Encourages telehealth services for maternal care.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — Expands the pool of reimbursable providers, potentially increasing demand for doulas and midwives. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Creates a new revenue stream for independent doulas and midwives through Medicaid reimbursement. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill expands mandatory Medicaid coverage for specific maternal health services. Does this reduce what the federal government owes? — Mandating additional Medicaid coverage typically increases government spending. Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — Increases federal spending obligations through expanded Medicaid requirements.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — Imposes new mandatory coverage requirements on State Medicaid plans. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — Limits state flexibility in determining which services are covered under Medicaid.
- 11/10/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/19/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 8/27/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/15/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 9 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Alma AdamsDemocrat · North Carolina
Debbie DingellDemocrat · Michigan
Al GreenDemocrat · Texas
Adelita GrijalvaDemocrat · Arizona
Robin KellyDemocrat · Illinois
Ted LieuDemocrat · California
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Ayanna PressleyDemocrat · Massachusetts
Janice SchakowskyDemocrat · Illinois
Emilia SykesDemocrat · Ohio
Lauren UnderwoodDemocrat · Illinois
Frederica WilsonDemocrat · Florida