California has added doula services to Medi-Cal coverage

by Edward Henderson, California Black Media Medi-Cal, California’s version of the federal medical assistance program Medicaid, has announced that it is expanding access to maternal health, including doula services. The expansion is expected to have a critical impact on the health of Black mothers and expectant moms. Nearly half of Black Californians are enrolled in Medi-Cal. Black mothers are approximately four times more likely to die than their White counterparts from pregnancy-related complications, according to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). The Black maternal mortality rate is three times higher than that of White, Hispanic and Asian moms. And Black babies are twice as likely to die before their first birthday as White babies. Erica Holmes, chief of Benefits Divisions for the California Department of Health Care Services, spoke during an online news briefing in June organized by Ethnic Media Services (EMS) to provide more details about Medi-Cal’s expansion into the doula space. “The department has issued a standing recommendation for doula services. Medi-Cal members don’t have to get a separate written referral for services. All they need to do is find a doula who accepts Medi-Cal to start receiving care. The department also has a doula directory where...