California’s AB 904: What Doulas Need to Know About the 2023 Health Coverage Legislation That Expanded Doula Benefits

Did you know that by law, by January 1, 2025, all health plans in California must maternal and infant health equity program? This blog post take doulas through what you need to know about the original state legislation which supercharged the Doula Benefit in California.

September 26, 2025

Updates from the California Doula Implementation Workgroup: 18 Key Recommendations to Improve Medi-Cal Doula Services (May 2025)

What California doulas need to know: Doula Implementation Stakeholder Workgroup released 18 critical recommendations addressing Medi-Cal payment delays, credentialing barriers, and hospital access issues. Essential updates on state solutions, insurance plan requirements, and funding proposals affecting your practice.

October 16, 2025

Home Sweet Birth: The Do’s and Don’ts of Supporting a Home Delivery

Discover why some families choose home birth, when it’s not advised, and the essential doula guidelines for safety, support, and insurance compliance.

September 26, 2025

The Loula Cycle: Your Payday Playlist

Stay on beat with Loula’s semi-monthly pay cycle. Learn deadlines, tips, and steps to keep your doula payments smooth and on time.

September 26, 2025

9 Extra Visits? Here's How to Unlock Them

Here’s how to unlock 9 additional postpartum visits; because sometimes nine is better than none

September 26, 2025

Battle of the Benefits: Medi-Cal vs. Commercial Insurance for Doulas in California

Learn how California doulas get paid with Medi-Cal vs. commercial insurance. Who pays first, billing tips, and how to avoid costly delays.

September 26, 2025

Placenta Encapsulation, Infant Massage, and More: How to Provide Non-covered Services to Insurance Clients

As services provided by doulas is so dynamic and individualized, navigating ethical and legal boundaries is essential. This in-depth guide explores how to ethically charge for non-covered doula services, such as placenta encapsulation, birthing ceremonies, and massage. We’ll outline best practices for transparency, informed consent, and client empowerment while staying compliant with programs like Medi-Cal. Learn the difference between pro-bono and for-fee models, how to clearly communicate optional services, and how to avoid unintentional noncompliance. We also answer frequently asked questions and provide links to trusted resources for doulas seeking clarity and support. Whether you're a new doula or an experienced provider adjusting to insurance billing, this comprehensive blog post ensures you can offer holistic, culturally relevant services in a way that respects both your clients and the systems you're working within. Keywords: ethical doula billing, non-covered services, Medi-Cal doula, informed consent doula services.

September 26, 2025

Charting for doulas: what's required for health plans and best practices

Good charting as a doula is more than just paperwork. It’s your record, your protection, and the key to getting paid. In this post, learn exactly what to include in visit notes, how to follow best practices (including what NOT to write), how to chart in ways that meet insurance, audit, and client‑care needs, and why clear, timely, objective documentation matters. Whether prenatal, labor & delivery, postpartum, or miscarriage/abortion support, you’ll walk away knowing what a strong chart looks like, how to organize your records, and how charting supports your professional care as a doula.

September 26, 2025

Submitting your first claim: a guide to the CMS-1500 for doulas

If you are a doula billing Medi‑Cal in California, using the CMS‑1500 form correctly ensures you get paid at the proper Medi‑Cal fee‑for‑service / managed care plan rate. This guide explains how to enroll, what codes, diagnosis, and modifiers you need, which CMS‑1500 fields to fill for doula services, how to file with fee‑for‑service or MCPs, common errors, and what the latest DHCS rules require, including the requirement since November 1, 2024 that all doula claims include a diagnosis code.

September 26, 2025

Understanding the DHCS-mandated Reimbursement Rates for Doulas in California

In recent years, California’s Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has expanded recognition of doula services under Medi‑Cal. A key change came with a set of increased reimbursement rates (via the Medi‑Cal “Targeted Provider Rate Increase” or TRI), effective January 1, 2024. However, as often happens with large policy shifts, full implementation has been uneven. Some providers (particularly those contracting through Managed Care Plans, MCPs) have reported not being reimbursed at the updated higher rates, or only after delays or after taking certain actions. This article lays out what changed, what the problems were, and where things stand now.

September 26, 2025

So, you’ve scheduled a consultation with a doula — what should you ask? A Parent’s Guide

Whether you've just learned about doula services or if you've always dreamed of having a doula during your pregnancy, use this guide to help you navigate talking to and evaluating doulas

August 26, 2025

How to Find Insurance Clients as a Doula in California

August 26, 2025

What Is Insurance Verification for Doulas—and Why It’s Essential When Accepting Insurance Clients

August 26, 2025

How to Find a Doula Who Accepts Your Insurance

August 26, 2025

Transform Your Private Doula Practice: A Complete Guide to Accepting Health Insurance and Medi-Cal in California in 2025

Learn essential business practices for doulas accepting health insurance and Medi-Cal in California. Discover reimbursement rates, visit structures, care models, and compliance requirements to maximize earnings while serving clients effectively.

August 26, 2025

The Essential HIPAA Compliant Tools for Doulas Working with Health Insurance in 2025

Discover essential HIPAA compliant tools for doulas accepting health insurance. Complete 2025 guide to secure messaging, scheduling, billing & more

August 26, 2025

Doula services are fully covered by insurance in California—here’s what’s covered and what’s not covered

A guide for expecting families and those who were recently pregnant on what to expect from doula services covered by insurance

August 5, 2025

California’s Medi-Cal Doula Benefit: What’s Covered, What’s Not & How to Stay Compliant

A guide for both doulas and pregnant families on what is and isn't covered by the doula benefits under California Medi-Cal plans

July 25, 2025

How to Enroll as a Medi-Cal Doula in California: A Simple, Step-by-Step Guide (2025)

Learn how to enroll as a Medi-Cal doula in California with this up-to-date 2025 guide—covering training options, certification, NPI registration, PAVE application, billing codes, and how Loula can support your enrollment journey.

August 12, 2025