Doula Cov Kev Pab Cuam Tshuam Cov Lus Nug
Doula Cov Chaw Pabcuam - Cov FAQs
Lub Tsev Haujlwm Saib Xyuas Kev Noj Qab Haus Huv (DHCS) suav nrog cov kev pabcuam doula hauv ob qho tib si tswj kev saib xyuas thiab them nqi-rau-kev pabcuam kev pabcuam rau cov menyuam cev xeeb tub thiab tomqab yug menyuam. Cov kev pabcuam muaj xws li kev pabcuam tsis yog khomob rau kev mus ntsib ua ntej yug menyuam thiab tomqab yug menyuam, thiab thaum lub sijhawm ua haujlwm thiab yug menyuam, nchuav menyuam, thiab rho menyuam tawm.
1. Cov kev pabcuam dab tsi yuav doulas muab rau kev them rov qab?
- Doulas tuaj yeem muab ntau hom kev txhawb nqa thaum lub sijhawm cev xeeb tub, suav nrog thaum cev xeeb tub; kev ua haujlwm thiab kev yug me nyuam, nchuav menyuam, thiab rho menyuam; thiab mus txog rau ib xyoos tom qab yug me nyuam. Cov kev pabcuam suav nrog kev taw qhia; kev noj qab haus huv navigation; Cov ntaub ntawv pov thawj kev kawm rau kev yug menyuam, tom qab yug menyuam, yug menyuam, thiab kev saib xyuas menyuam mos / menyuam mos; txhawb nqa lactation; kev loj hlob ntawm txoj kev npaj yug me nyuam; thiab kev sib txuas rau cov peev txheej hauv zej zog. Thov mus saib Medi-Cal Phau Ntawv Qhia: Doula Services kom paub ntau ntxiv.
2. Puas muaj tej yam uas yuav tsum tau ua ua ntej ib tug tswv cuab tuaj yeem tau txais kev pabcuam doula? (Ntxiv Lub Yim Hli 16, 2024)
- Doula services are considered a preventive benefit. Federal law requires that all preventive services first be recommended by a physician or other licensed practitioner of the healing arts. To increase access to services, DHCS issued a standing recommendation for doula services by the DHCS Medical Director, Karen Mark, MD, PhD. This fulfills the federal requirement for a recommendation to initiate doula services and Medi-Cal members do not need to separately obtain a recommendation. Doulas should reference this standing order in their records for the Medi-Cal member.
- If a Medi-Cal member has used all eight perinatal visits and wishes to receive additional doula services during the postpartum period, the member can ask a licensed provider to complete the Medi-Cal Doula Services Recommendation form and give the form to the doula. (Added August 16, 2024)
3. Leej twg tuaj yeem pom zoo cov kev pabcuam doula? (Hloov kho lub Cuaj Hlis 10, 2025)
- Since the DHCS Medical Director, Dr. Karen Mark, MD, PhD, has issued a standing recommendation for doula services, Medi-Cal members do not need a separate recommendation from a physician or other licensed provider for the initial set of services as described in the Medi-Cal Provider Manual: Doula Services. However, Medi-Cal members will need a new recommendation to receive up to nine additional postpartum visits. This recommendation must be made by a physician or other licensed practitioner of the healing arts acting within their scope of practice under state law. The recommending provider does not need to be enrolled in Medi-Cal or be a network provider with the member’s managed care plan (MCP).
4. Cov kev pabcuam doula twg tau tso cai los ntawm kev pom zoo? (Hloov kho lub Yim Hli 16, 2024)
- Qhov kev pom zoo sawv cev tso cai rau cov tswv cuab tau txais cov kev pabcuam doula hauv qab no:
- Ib zaug pib 90-feeb mus ntsib.
- Up to eight additional visits that may be provided in any combination of prenatal and postpartum visits, as determined by the birthing person and doula.
- Kev them nyiaj yug thaum cev xeeb tub thiab yug menyuam, rho menyuam, thiab nchuav menyuam.
- Txog li ob ncua peb teev tom qab yug me nyuam tom qab qhov kawg ntawm cev xeeb tub.
- A second recommendation from a physician or other licensed practitioner of the healing arts acting within their scope of practice under state law is required for Medi-Cal members to receive up to nine additional visits during the postpartum period. See questions #5 and #6 below for more information.
5. Muaj pes tsawg zaus kev mus ntsib tom qab yug menyuam?
- A second recommendation – either noted in the member’s medical record by a licensed provider or a signed Medi-Cal Doula Services Recommendation: Additional Postpartum Visits form – allows members to receive up to nine additional visits during the postpartum period. The standing recommendation does not authorize these additional postpartum visits.
6. Puas yog qhov kev pom zoo thib ob rau kev pabcuam tomqab yug menyuam yuav tsum tau sau hnub tomqab cev xeeb tub?
- No. If the member has used or is likely to use all eight additional visits while they are pregnant, a licensed provider may recommend additional visits to be provided during the postpartum period.
7. Lub sijhawm tom qab yug menyuam ntev npaum li cas rau kev pabcuam doula? (Hloov kho lub Yim Hli 16, 2024)
- Rau doula kev pab them nqi, lub sij hawm tom qab yug me nyuam muaj txog li ib xyoos tom qab qhov kawg ntawm cev xeeb tub, uas tso cai rau cov tswv cuab ntawm Medi-Cal tau txais kev pab doulas nyob rau lub sijhawm no.
8. Ib tug tswvcuab puas tuaj yeem tau txais kev pabcuam doula nkaus xwb thaum lub sijhawm tomqab yug menyuam?
- Yog lawm. Cov kev pabcuam Doula muaj txog li ib xyoos tom qab cev xeeb tub. Yog tias tus tswvcuab tsis muaj doula thaum cev xeeb tub, lawv tuaj yeem siv qhov kev mus ntsib thawj zaug thiab tag nrho yim mus ntsib thaum lub sijhawm tomqab yug menyuam thiab txog li cuaj qhov kev mus ntsib tomqab yug menyuam ntxiv nrog rau tsab ntawv pom zoo thib ob.
9. Puas yog DHCS puas yuav them cov kev pabcuam doula thaum lossis tom qab nchuav menyuam, tseem yug menyuam, lossis rho menyuam?
Yog lawm, cov kev pabcuam doula muaj los txhawb cov tib neeg thaum lub sijhawm thiab tom qab cev xeeb tub uas xaus rau kev nchuav menyuam, tseem yug menyuam, lossis rho menyuam tawm.
10. Are there any requirements for reimbursement for doula support provided during or after a miscarriage or abortion? (added November 17, 2025)
Yes. To substantiate the medical necessity for services in case of a state or federaln audit and as an added protection for doulas, reimbursement for doula support for miscarriage is only available when a licensed provider (e.g., a physician, nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, or licensed midwife) has confirmed the pregnancy prior to the miscarriage. Confirmation can be documentation of a prenatal service by a licensed provider through either a claim, encounter data, or medical record.
Reimbursement for doula support for abortion is only available when there is documentation by claim, encounter data, or medical record of medication or surgical abortion.
Doulas are not required to provide supporting documentation when submitting claims and seeking reimbursement for support for miscarriage or abortion or for postpartum services provided after a miscarriage or abortion, but it is a best practice for doulas to confirm with the member that the pregnancy was confirmed by a licensed provider.
11. Puas muaj kev txwv rau qhov twg doulas tuaj yeem muab kev pabcuam? (ntxiv Lub Peb Hlis 11, 2025)
- Tsis yog. Doulas tuaj yeem muab kev pabcuam hauv zej zog, ntawm tus tswvcuab lub tsev, thiab hauv tsev kho mob, ntawm lwm qhov chaw.
12. Puas yog doulas muab kev pabcuam los ntawm telehealth? (Hloov kho lub Peb Hlis 11, 2025)
- Yes. Doula may provide all services via telehealth, including by telephone. Services rendered via telehealth must be billed consistent with DHCS’ telehealth policy as outlined in the Medicine: Telehealth section of the Medi-Cal Provider Manual. This includes billing with modifier 93 for synchronous audio-only or modifier 95 for synchronous video. Services rendered via text, email, chat, or modalities other than audio-visual or audio-only are not reimbursable. Additionally, all doula services provided via telehealth must meet federal requirements for privacy, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
- Medi-Cal’s telehealth policy requires that any provider, including doulas, who are providing services via telehealth be able to provide a warm hand-off to an in-person doula, if requested by the Medi-Cal member.
13. Ib tug tswvcuab puas tuaj yeem tau txais kev pabcuam doula los ntawm ntau dua ib doula? (Hloov kho lub Yim Hli 16, 2024)
- Yog lawm, ntau tshaj ib doula tuaj yeem muab kev pabcuam thaum tus tswvcuab cev xeeb tub thiab lub sijhawm tomqab yug menyuam. Txawm li cas los xij, tag nrho cov kev mus ntsib uas ib tug tswv cuab tuaj yeem tau txais yog ib qho kev xeeb tub thiab tsis yog ib qho doula. Tsis tas li ntawd, tsuas yog ib qho doula tuaj yeem them nqi rau cov kev pabcuam thaum lub sijhawm ua haujlwm, nchuav menyuam, lossis rho menyuam tawm.
- DHCS recognizes that there may be various reasons why a Medi-Cal member may see one or more doulas during the course of their pregnancy, or even on the same day. For example, a Medi-Cal member may meet with one or more doulas as part of the process of initially identifying a doula who best meets their individual needs. Similarly, a Medi-Cal member may need to change doulas during the course of their pregnancy. For these reasons, Medi-Cal policy does not prohibit two doulas from providing medically necessary prenatal or postpartum visits during the course of a Medi-Cal member’s pregnancy or even on the same day.
14. Puas yog doulas tshwj xeeb (xws li yug / L & D nkaus xwb, ua ntej yug menyuam nkaus xwb, tom qab yug menyuam nkaus xwb, thiab lwm yam) puas tuaj yeem muab kev pabcuam doula rau lawv qhov tshwj xeeb? (hloov kho lub Kaum Ib Hlis 17, 2025)
- DHCS has created a single enrollment pathway for doulas, so they must be able to provide all doula services listed in the Medi-Cal Provider Manual: Doula Services — prenatal, labor, and postpartum care. Doulas may have areas of specialties. These are listed in the Doula Directory.
- DHCS tau ua haujlwm nrog ntau tus neeg muaj feem cuam tshuam los tsim cov txiaj ntsig doula uas ntseeg tias kev paub txog kev yug menyuam yog qhov tseem ceeb los muab kev saib xyuas zoo tom qab yug menyuam. Yog li ntawd, DHCS tsis muaj cov phiaj xwm los tsim cov doulas tshwj xeeb.
15. Doulas puas tuaj yeem pab yug menyuam hauv tsev? (ntxiv Lub Peb Hlis 11, 2025)
- Yog lawm, doula tuaj yeem pab yug menyuam hauv tsev los ntawm tus kws kho mob uas muaj ntawv tso cai. Medi-Cal tsis muaj kev txwv qhov twg doulas yuav muab kev pab.
16. Kuv tuaj yeem tau txais cov ntaub ntawv ntau ntxiv lossis muab kev tawm tswv yim nyob qhov twg?
- Information about the doula benefit is available on the DHCS Doula Services webpage.
- Thov xa email rau DoulaBenefit@dhcs.ca.gov nrog rau cov lus qhia ntxiv, cov lus nug, thiab cov lus pom.