Doula Services Information for Medicaid Members

3 images: pregnant woman, patient holding someones hand, a mother breast feeding her child

As of March 1, 2024, all NYS Medicaid Members are eligible to receive doula services at no cost during pregnancy and up to 12 months after, regardless of the pregnancy outcome.

Table of Contents


a doula back massaging a pregnant woman who's holding on to her partner

What is a doula?

A doula provides physical, emotional, educational, and non-medical support for pregnant and postpartum persons before, during, and after childbirth or end of pregnancy. Doula support should not replace medical care with a licensed provider.

Doula services may include:

  • The development of a birth plan;
  • Ongoing support throughout the pregnancy;
  • Continuous labor support during childbirth;
  • Education and information on pregnancy, childbirth and early parenting;
  • Assisting with communication between you and your medical providers, and;
  • Connecting you to community-based childbirth and parenting resources.




Doula Services Covered by Medicaid

  • If you are a New York State Medicaid Member, you are eligible to receive doula services with each pregnancy at no cost.
  • You can receive up to 8 doula visits before and after your pregnancy and support during childbirth - no matter how your pregnancy ends.
  • You can receive doula services up 12 months after your pregnancy ends.
For Medicaid Managed Care Members:

If you started to receive doula services with a Medicaid-enrolled doula(s) before April 1, 2025, your doula services will continue to be covered by Medicaid until 12 months after the end of your pregnancy. If you start to receive doula service on or after April 1, 2025, your doula needs to participate with your Medicaid Managed Care Plan for your doula services to be covered by Medicaid.

Find a NYS Medicaid Fee-for-Service Doula

The doula directory lists all of the doulas who are enrolled as NYS Medicaid fee-for-service providers and is updated regularly: Health.ny.gov/douladirectory

Standing Order for Doula Services

The State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald issued a statewide standing order that all New Yorkers who are pregnant, birthing, or postpartum would benefit from receiving doula services. This order is another step in expanding access to doula care and fulfills the requirement for a provider recommendation for services to be covered by Medicaid. The standing order removes the requirement for a Medicaid member to get an individual recommendation for doula services.

View the statewide standing order for doula services (PDF)

Contact

To receive updates on the Medicaid doula services benefit, or for questions or comments, email MaternalAndChild.HealthPolicy@health.ny.gov

Para más información en español, visite Doula Services en español.

3 images: pregnant woman, patient holding someones hand, a mother breast feeding her child