Missouri Medicaid Enhances Maternal Health by Reimbursing for Doula Services…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 22, 2024

CONTACT: [email protected]

JEFFERSON CITY, MO - The Missouri Department of Social Services' MO HealthNet Division (MHD) is proud to announce that on October 2, 2024, the Center for Medicare/Medicaid Services (CMS) approved a State Plan Amendment (SPA) that enables the state to begin reimbursing for doula services.

This CMS approval aligns with Missouri's emergency regulation, which was published on September 27 and took effect on October 1. The emergency regulation was necessary to ensure these valuable services could be accessed as quickly as possible. A newly filed permanent regulation is expected to receive full approval and become operational when the emergency rule expires in six months.

The SPA clarifies how doulas are defined for Medicaid billing and outlines service definitions. Doulas interested in these services should look for an upcoming provider bulletin that will provide details, including reimbursement rates. This bulletin will also contain information about future educational webinars aimed at helping doulas with enrollment and addressing any questions.

Medicaid participants will have access to the following doula services:

• Prenatal Support: Sessions aimed at enhancing health literacy, covering what to expect during pregnancy and childbirth, identifying normal experiences, communicating concerns to providers, and discussing nutrition, exercise, tobacco cessation, and self-monitoring of existing health risks or conditions.
• Community Navigation: Connecting pregnant and postpartum women on MO HealthNet (Medicaid) to resources and assistance programs based on individual needs.
• Childbirth Support: Assisting with birth planning, what to expect, and providing non-medical support during labor while respecting personal and cultural preferences.
• Postpartum Support: Sessions designed to help women understand what to expect, identify normal experiences, communicate concerns to providers, transition back to well-woman care, family planning, screening for postpartum depression, parenting education and skills, and transition to other insurance as necessary.
• Lactation Education: Offering up to two lactation education and support sessions that cover the fundamentals of breastfeeding.

MHD is implementing a range of strategies to enhance maternal and infant health outcomes within Missouri's Medicaid program. Providing reimbursement for doula services is a vital part of a comprehensive approach to improve maternal health.

For more information on maternal and infant health in Missouri, please visit healthymomsbabies.mo.gov.