Senate panel approves doula pilot to target maternal health disparities in South Florida

Sen. Osgood described SB 514, which would direct the Department of Health to implement a doula support for healthy births pilot program in Broward, Miami‑Dade and Palm Beach counties for a 12–24 month period depending on appropriations. Required services include prenatal education, labor support, postpartum assistance, medical‑setting advocacy, and continuous emotional support delivered as evidence‑based, nonmedical care. The sponsor emphasized prioritizing pregnant and postpartum people overcoming substance use disorder, though services are not exclusive to that population.

An amendment changed the funding source to a specific appropriation in the General Appropriations Act to ensure deliberate funding and was adopted. Supporting testimony came from public‑health and maternal‑health advocates, including the Florida Health Justice Project and Healthy Start coalitions, who framed the pilot as a targeted, evidence‑based response to Florida’s maternal health disparities and a step toward longer‑term integration if the pilot proves effective. The committee reported the bill favorably as a committee substitute.