Oregon Tells Insurers to Reprocess Wrongly Denied Doula Claims
Oregon's Department of Consumer and Business Services issued an October memo admitting it gave insurers incorrect guidance suggesting a 2026 law delayed doula coverage requirements until 2028. In fact, a 2025 law continues to mandate coverage of doula services up to at least $3,760 annually, adjusted for inflation, for plans covering pregnancy and childbirth; only certain lactation services were delayed to 2028. Insurance Commissioner TK Keen directed issuers to review and reprocess claims denied since January 1, 2026 under the mistaken interpretation. Regulators will hold off referring noncompliance complaints to enforcement until next year to give insurers time to adjust, though the fix applies only to state-regulated plans, including the Oregon Health Plan and commercial insurance, not self-funded employer plans.