## Our CEO On Why 2026 Marks a Turning Point for Doulas in U.S. Maternity Care

January 16, 2026

Mahmee was recently featured in _Managed Healthcare Executive_’s 2026 predictions on accountability, transparency, and equity in U.S. healthcare. In the piece, our CEO, **Melissa Hanna** shares why 2026 will be a turning point for recognizing doulas as essential members of the maternity care workforce and not as just a "nice to have".

As Medicaid reimbursement expands and pregnancy complexity rises, the industry is moving away from independent doula models toward organized, employed care teams that work alongside nurses, lactation consultants, and mental health providers. It’s a shift Mahmee has been building toward for years, that promises better outcomes for families and long-overdue stability for the doula workforce.

[Read the Managed Healthcare Executive article here.](https://www.managedhealthcareexecutive.com/view/predictions-for-2026-on-accountability-transparency-and-equity-in-u-s-healthcare-by-elizabeth-mitchell-keith-somers-and-more)