Women are the fastest-growing group of veterans, with more than 600,000 now receiving care from the VA and over 5,500 obstetric deliveries paid for by the Department in fiscal year 2019 alone. This bill would set up a five-year VA pilot program offering doulas (trained non-medical labor and postpartum support workers) to pregnant veterans, covering up to 10 sessions per veteran at no more than $3,500 per doula. The pilot would run in six VA networks chosen for high or low female-veteran enrollment plus at least one frontier network serving American Indian or Alaska Native communities. Doulas would be trained on military sexual trauma and PTSD, and the VA would report to Congress each year on whether to expand the program.
Congressional Summary
Delivering Optimally Urgent Labor Access for Veterans Affairs Act of 2026 or the DOULA for VA Act of 2026This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a five-year pilot program to furnish doula services to pregnant veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system. The program must furnish doula services through eligible entities by expanding the VA's Whole Health model to measure the impact that doula support services have on birth and mental health outcomes of pregnant veterans. The Whole Health model is a holistic approach that looks at the many areas of life that may affect health in order to make a health plan suited for each individual based on his or her health goals.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Senate
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in Senate
- Action Date
- 2026-03-26
- Date Added
- 2026-04-28
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