S. 4986 is a bill that aims to amend the Social Security Act to allow Medicaid to cover services provided by doulas, midwives, and lactation support providers. This means that individuals enrolled in Medicaid would have access to these types of support during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care, potentially improving maternal and infant health outcomes.
Supporters of S. 4986 have praised the bill for recognizing the importance of holistic and supportive care during pregnancy and childbirth. They argue that providing Medicaid coverage for doulas, midwives, and lactation consultants can lead to better health outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and enhance the overall experience for mothers and families.
Critics of S. 4986 have raised concerns about the potential costs associated with expanding Medicaid coverage to include these services. Some argue that it may lead to increased spending without clear evidence of improved health outcomes, while others worry about the regulation and quality of care provided by non-traditional providers like doulas and midwives.
The analysis of bill S. 4986, which aims to provide Medicaid coverage for services from doulas, midwives, and lactation support providers, shows no direct industry overlaps with the sponsor Elizabeth Warren's top donor industries. The lobbying activity in this policy area primarily involves organizations like Healthequity, Inc. and Mathematica, Inc., which have contributed $50,000 and $60,000 respectively. However, these contributions do not indicate a direct financial interest in the specific services covered by the bill. The absence of direct industry overlaps and the relatively low amounts from lobbying activities suggest minimal risk of conflict of interest. Voters should be aware that while there is some lobbying influence, it does not directly correlate with the bill's subject matter.
Organizations that lobbied on issues related to this bill's policy area.
| Client | Lobbying Firm | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN ACADEMY OF HOME CARE MEDICINE | TARPLIN, DOWNS & YOUNG, LLC | $70,000 |
| MATHEMATICA, INC | TARPLIN, DOWNS & YOUNG, LLC | $60,000 |
| MARSHFIELD CLINIC HEALTH SYSTEM | MARSHFIELD CLINIC HEALTH SYSTEM | $60,000 |
| ACTUM ON BEHALF OF HEALTHEQUITY, INC. | TARPLIN, DOWNS & YOUNG, LLC | $50,000 |
| COALITION FOR THE USE OF SAFE AND EFFICIENT REFRIGERANTS | WILLIAMSON LAW + POLICY PLLC | $20,000 |
| JAMESTOWN S'KLALLAM TRIBE | HOBBS, STRAUS, DEAN & WALKER, LLP | $10,000 |
| NATIONAL CONSUMER REPORTING ASSOCIATION | NATIONAL CONSUMER REPORTING ASSOCIATION | $5,000 |
| ASSOCIATION FOR MATERIALS PROTECTION AND PERFORMANCE (AMPP) | ASSOCIATION FOR MATERIALS PROTECTION AND PERFORMANCE (AMPP) | undisclosed |
| SYSTEMS & METHODS, INC. | CAPROCK STRATEGIES, LLC | undisclosed |
| HEALING LODGE OF THE SEVEN NATIONS | HOBBS, STRAUS, DEAN & WALKER, LLP | undisclosed |
| PUEBLO OF SANTA ANA | HOBBS, STRAUS, DEAN & WALKER, LLP | undisclosed |
| TIGERSWAN | ALPHA STRATEGIES, LLC | undisclosed |
| LWRC INTERNATIONAL, LLC | ALPHA STRATEGIES, LLC | undisclosed |
| NATIVE VILLAGE OF EYAK | HOBBS, STRAUS, DEAN & WALKER, LLP | undisclosed |
| HEALTHCARE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION | HEALTHCARE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION | undisclosed |
Source: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings, 2026
Top industries funding Elizabeth Warren, ranked by total contributions.
Source: OpenSecrets.org (Center for Responsive Politics)
