S.964

Requires Medicaid coverage of doula services, establishes Certified Professional Midwives licensing, and sets birth center licensure standards.

This bill mandates the North Carolina Medicaid program to cover doula services during pregnancy and postpartum. It allocates $1 million for Medicaid implementation and $550,000 for doula workforce support. The bill establishes the Certified Professional Midwives licensing process, including education, training, and certification requirements. It creates the North Carolina Council of Midwives to oversee licensing and disciplinary actions. The bill also sets standards for birth center licensure, including accreditation, risk status evaluation, and ultrasound recommendations.