Doula Services Overview
The New York State Medicaid Doula Services team has created a shareable one-page flyer to provide information about the doula services benefit. Please distribute this flyer widely with your networks in order to increase awareness, education, and the impact of the Medicaid doula services benefit.
Click Flyer to download PDF.
The New York State enacted 2023-24 Executive Budget includes expanded Medicaid coverage of preventative care, including Statewide Medicaid coverage and higher reimbursement for doulas. The New York State Office of Health Insurance Programs will continue to engage doula stakeholders to implement the Medicaid doula services benefit.
Table of Contents
Public Meetings
| Upcoming Town Hall Dates |
| Date |
Time |
Registration Link |
| Tuesday, May 13, 2025 |
10:00am-11:00am |
Register Here |
| Tuesday, August 12, 2025 |
10:00am-11:00am |
|
| Tuesday, November 11, 2025 |
10:00am-11:00am |
|
* Videos on YouTube can be viewed with captions in other languages. First, click the "CC" button to turn on subtitles/closed captions. Next, click the "Settings" button and select "Subtitles/CC English (auto-translated)". Finally, click "Auto-translate" and select your language.
Virtual Town Hall Archive
2025
| Date |
Time |
Slide Deck |
Recording |
| Tuesday, January 14, 2025 |
11:00am-12:00pm |
PDF |
YouTube |
| Tuesday, February 11, 2025 |
10:00am-11:00am |
PDF |
YouTube |
| Tuesday, March 11, 2025 |
10:00am-11:00am |
PDF |
YouTube |
| Tuesday, April 8, 2025 |
10:00am-11:00am |
PDF |
YouTube |
2024
| Date |
Time |
Slide Deck |
Recording |
| Tuesday, January 9, 2024 |
10:00am-12:00pm |
PDF |
YouTube |
| Tuesday, February 13, 2024 |
10:00am-12:00pm |
PDF |
YouTube |
| Tuesday, March 12, 2024 |
10:00am-12:00pm |
PDF |
YouTube |
| Tuesday, April 9, 2024 |
10:00am-12:00pm |
PDF |
YouTube |
| Tuesday, May 14, 2024 |
10:00am-12:00pm |
PDF |
YouTube |
| Tuesday, June 11, 2024 |
10:00am-12:00pm |
PDF |
YouTube |
| Tuesday, July 9, 2024 |
10:00am-11:00am |
PDF |
YouTube |
| Tuesday, August 13, 2024 |
10:00am-12:00pm |
PDF |
YouTube |
| Tuesday, September 10, 2024 |
10:00am-12:00pm |
PDF |
YouTube |
| Tuesday, October 8, 2024 |
10:00am-11:00pm |
PDF |
YouTube |
| Tuesday, November 12, 2024 |
10:00am-11:00am |
PDF |
YouTube |
| Tuesday, December 10, 2024 |
10:00am-12:00pm |
PDF |
YouTube |
2023
| Date |
Time |
Slide Deck |
Recording |
| Tuesday, May 30, 2023 |
1:00pm-2:00pm |
PDF |
YouTube |
| Tuesday, June 20, 2023 |
2:00pm-4:00pm |
PDF |
YouTube |
| Friday, July 7, 2023 |
9:00am - 11:00am |
PDF |
YouTube |
| Monday, July 17, 2023 |
11:00am-1:00pm |
PDF |
YouTube |
| Friday, August 11, 2023 |
10:00am-12:00pm |
PDF | Pilot |
YouTube |
| Friday, September 22, 2023 |
10:00am-12:00pm |
PDF |
YouTube |
| Monday, October 16, 2023 |
2:00pm-3:00pm |
PDF |
YouTube |
| Thursday, November 16, 2023 |
9:00am-10:00am |
PDF | CDPHP |
YouTube |
| Friday, December 1, 2023 |
9:30am-10:30am |
PDF | IH |
YouTube |
*Videos on YouTube can be viewed with captions in other languages. First, click the "CC" button to turn on subtitles/closed captions. Next, click the "Settings" button and select "Subtitles/CC English (auto-translated)". Finally, click "Auto-translate" and select your language.
Doula Provider Enrollment and Billing
For more information about how to become a Medicaid-enrolled doula services provider and how to bill for doula services, please visit Doula Provider Enrollment and Billing.
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 will allow doulas to provide physical, emotional, educational, and non-medical support for pregnant and postpartum individuals before, during, and after childbirth or at the end of pregnancy through 12 months postpartum.
- This order fulfills the federal requirements in section 440.130(c) of title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations for a physician or other licensed practitioner of the healing arts acting within their scope of practice to provide a written order for preventive services.
Statewide Benefit Updates
The State Plan Amendment (SPA) for New York State Medicaid Doula Services was submitted for federal approval on December 28, 2023, and approved March 25, 2024. There are two ways to view the SPA:
- Visit the Proposed and Approved State Plan Amendments website.
- Open the year 2024
- Click 'Non-Institutional Services'
- Find SPA 24-03, Doula Services, and click the link under the column "Original Submission"
- Link to SPA 24-03
___________________________________________________________________
The Federal Public Notice (FPN) for doula services was published in the New York State Register as of December 13, 2023. The FPN allows for formal public comment on the proposed New York State Medicaid doula services benefit from the FPN publication date, December 13, 2023, until federal approval. The public comment period is closed. There are three ways to view the FPN:
- Link to the Dec 13, 2023, New York State Register (page 79 of the document, page 85 of the PDF).
- Visit the State Register website.
- The doula services FPN can be found in the issue labeled "December 13, 2023/Vol. XLV, Issue 50.".
- To review issues, scroll down to the bottom of the State Register website and use the search function.
- View the PDF of the Dec 13, 2023, New York State Register (page 79 of the document, page 85 of the PDF).
Doula Pilot Program
- On April 23, 2018, New York State announced a comprehensive initiative to target maternal mortality and reduce racial disparities in health outcomes. This initiative included a pilot program to provide Medicaid coverage for doula services to pregnant and postpartum people. A doula, also known as a birth companion, birth coach, or post-birth supporter, is a non-medical person who provides physical, emotional, and informational support to pregnant people before, during, and after delivery. Doulas receive training from either a national organization or a community-based organization, and these trainings vary in content, requirements, and duration. There are no universally accepted standards for doula certification and doulas are not licensed. Doulas do not prescribe treatment, complete a physical or behavioral health assessment, or provide medical care or advice.
- Starting on March 1, 2019, pregnant people who were enrolled in Medicaid and living in Erie County were eligible to enroll in the New York State Doula Pilot Program. The pilot was initially established for a two-year period and was extended. Reimbursement for doula services continued through February 29, 2024, and doulas were able to enroll in the pilot through February 28, 2023.
- All doulas who are currently enrolled in New York State Medicaid via the Doula Services Pilot will remain enrolled through February 28, 2025. To revalidate on or before February 28, 2025, doulas who are currently enrolled in New York State Medicaid via the Doula Services Pilot will need to follow updated revalidation requirements according to statewide guidelines.
- As of April 9, 2024, 1,117 people enrolled in one of six different Medicaid Managed Care Plans or Medicaid Fee-for-Service participated in the pilot program.The pilot covered up to four visits with the doula before delivery, up to four visits with the doula after delivery, and doula support during labor and delivery. To date, approximately 81% of claims were for prenatal visits, 6% were for labor and delivery support, and 13% were for postpartum visits.
- Participating people were all sent a survey to assess satisfaction and experience with the pilot. To date, 94% of respondents said having a doula improved or somewhat improved their childbirth experience and 92% of respondents rated their doula as good or excellent.
- A report has been published sharing findings from focus groups conducted with pilot doulas and pilot doula clients. The September 2023 report can be accessed here: Findings from Focus Groups of Doulas and Clients in Buffalo (PDF).
- Information about the New York State Doula Pilot Program has been archived and can be found here.
Archive
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.
