Rogers hospital to be first to use Arkansas’ initiative for doulas in maternal healthcare

A northwest Arkansas hospital will be the first to use the state’s initiative to integrate doulas into maternal healthcare, the state’s largest healthcare system announced last week.

Doulas provide emotional, physical, educational and logistical support to parents-to-be and serve as middlemen between them and other medical professionals. 

The Advancing Doulas and Perinatal Teams Toolkit from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences “creates a continuity of care that drives better outcomes,” UAMS Institute for Community Health Innovation senior director Hannah McHardy said in a Thursday news release.

Mercy Hospital in Rogers will pilot the program before UAMS expands it to other hospitals, and so far 45 Mercy staff have been trained in incorporating doulas into prenatal care teams, the release states.

“Doulas are evidence-based partners that can complement the clinical team, help families navigate care with confidence, and improve the overall experience for both patients and providers,” Whitney Tolbert, vice president of patient services at the Rogers hospital, said in the news release.

A growing number of parents nationwide are relying on doulas as a part of their birth plans and to help them navigate a complex healthcare system. 

Arkansas consistently has high maternal and infant mortality rates, and the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act of 2025 sought to make maternal healthcare more affordable and navigable.

Delayed insurance coverage for doula services frustrates Arkansas parents and providers

The law requires both Medicaid and private insurance plans to cover doula services, though implementing this policy had a shaky start because of a missed deadline.

UAMS has launched multiple initiatives in the past few years with the goal of improving maternal health. Last year, the Institute for Community Health Innovation enrolled more than 50 people into a comprehensive doula training program, and it added 25 more people this year.

Also last year, UAMS started the Arkansas Center for Women and Infants’ Health to work with providers to increase pregnant and postpartum Arkansans’ access to care, especially in rural and underserved communities.

The center has been among the maternal health advocates participating in quarterly meetings led by the Heartland Forward think tank to work on implementing the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act, according to a December news release.