As used in the Doula Credentialing and Access Act:
- A. "applicant" means a person applying to be credentialed or recredentialed as a doula;
- B. "authority" means the health care authority;
- C. "credentialed doula" means a doula to whom the department has issued a credential to allow the doula to enroll as a medicaid provider;
- D. "department" means the department of health;
- E. "doula" means a trained, nonmedical professional who provides services, including health education, advocacy or physical, emotional or social support, to a person during the pre-conception period, pregnancy, childbirth or the postpartum period to promote positive health outcomes;
F. "eligible person" means a person who:
- (1) is eligible for medicaid; and
- (2) elects to receive services from a credentialed doula, while pregnant or during the first twelve months of the postpartum period, regardless of the person's birth outcome;
- G. "freestanding birth center" means a birth center licensed by the authority;
- H. "hospital" means a hospital licensed by the authority; and
- I. "secretary" means the secretary of health.
History: Laws 2025, ch. 20, § 2.
ANNOTATIONS
Effective dates. — Laws 2025, ch. 20 contained no effective date provision, but, pursuant to N.M. Const., art. IV, § 23, was effective June 20, 2025, 90 days after adjournment of the legislature.