# Health - General (GHG)

## Title 19. Health Care Facilities

### Subtitle 26. Hospital Obstetric Services Policy

#### Section 19-2601

(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

(b) "Doula" means a nonmedical professional who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the birthing parent throughout the prenatal, labor, and postpartum periods.

(c) "Hospital" means a hospital, as defined in Sec. 19-301 of this title, that provides obstetric care.

(d) "Significant medical intervention" means a cesarean section, induction of labor, augmentation of labor, operative vaginal delivery, or episiotomy.

#### Section 19-2602

(a) A hospital shall adopt and provide evidence to the Department that the hospital has:

  (1) A doula policy that allows every birthing parent to have at least one doula present during birth in addition to authorized guests;

  (2) An informed consent policy for significant medical intervention for the birthing parent; and

  (3) A transfer acceptance policy that includes the hospital's process for receiving:

    (i) A patient from a health care practitioner regulated under Title 8 of the Health Occupations Article who had provided services to a birthing parent in a home birth setting;

    (ii) A birthing parent's or newborn's medical information from the home birth provider; and

    (iii) A transfer from a licensed direct-entry midwife that is consistent with the requirements of Sec. 8-6C-08 of the Health Occupations Article.

(b) A hospital shall provide evidence to the Department that the hospital has adopted a policy under subsection (a) of this section:

  (1)

    (i) On or before January 1, 2026; or

    (ii) If the hospital is established after January 1, 2026, on the establishment of the hospital; and

  (2) Whenever the policy is updated.

(c) The Department shall adopt regulations to carry out this section, including regulations that establish the form and manner in which a hospital may prove to the Department that the hospital has adopted a policy in compliance with this section.

(d) The Department shall make the policies provided by a hospital under this section available to the public on request and in a manner determined by the Department.

(e) This section does not prohibit a hospital from setting a policy that restricts the number of doulas or authorized guests.

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Md. Code Ann., Health-Gen. (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)