Oregon legislation · 2026 Legislative Measures
Oregon SB1568: Relating to perinatal services; and declaring an emergency.
Status: Chaptered, April 6, 2026
Digest: The Act requires OHA, CCOs and health benefit plans that cover birth and pregnancy costs to also cover doula costs up to stated amounts of service. The Act requires that those entities and health benefit plans also cover lactation counselor costs. The Act requires those changes for contracts or plans that start or renew in 2028 or later. The Act requires the THW Commission to adopt rules about lactation counselors. The Act starts when it is signed. (Flesch Readability Score: 61.5). Establishes coverage levels for doula services in the state medical assistance program and for health benefit plans that provide coverage for pregnancy and childbirth expenses. Requires the Oregon Health Authority, coordinated care organizations and health benefit plans that provide coverage for pregnancy and childbirth to provide coverage for services of lactation counselors. Specifies that minimum coverage level modifications for doula services and required coverage for lactation counselor services become operative on January 1, 2028. Directs the Traditional Health Workers Commission to establish a voluntary registration system for lactation counselors. Becomes operative on January 1, 2028. Creates the Oregon Perinatal Collaborative in the Oregon Health and Science University. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.
What the bill says
From the enrolled text, March 5, 2026:
83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2026 Regular Session Senate Bill 1568 Sponsored by Senators REYNOLDS, ANDERSON, Representative NELSON, Senators NERON MISSLIN, PATTERSON; Senators GELSER BLOUIN, WEBER, Representatives CHOTZEN, FRAGALA, GRAYBER, LEVY B, LEVY E, MARSH, RIEKE SMITH, TRAN, WISE (Presession filed.) CHAPTER ................................................. Relating to perinatal services; creating new provisions; amending ORS 414.665, 414.668, 414.669, 676.380, 676.386, 676.665 and 743A.081 and section 21, chapter 539, Oregon Laws 2025; repealing ORS 414.667 and 676.671; and declaring an emergency. SECTION 1. ORS 414.665 is amended to read: 414.665. (1) As used in this section, "traditional health worker" includes any of the following: (a) A community health worker. (b) A personal health navigator. (c) A peer wellness specialist. (d) A peer support specialist. (e) A doula. (f) A tribal traditional health worker. (2) In consultation with the Traditional Health Workers Commission established under ORS 413.600, the Oregon Health Authority, for purposes related to the regulation of traditional health workers, shall adopt by rule: (a) The qualification criteria, including education and training requirements, for the traditional health workers utilized by coordinated care organizations, including [distinct qualification criteria for birth doulas and postpartum doulas] qualification criteria for the distinct perinatal doula provider types of birth doula and postpartum doula; (b) Appropriate professional designations for supervisors of the traditional health workers; and (c) Processes by which other occupational …