For California Birth Workers
California Doula Provider Intelligence Center
Curated Medi-Cal billing updates, Kaiser Permanente contracting resources, PAVE enrollment guides, and managed care provider news — in one unified dashboard.
For California Birth Workers
Curated Medi-Cal billing updates, Kaiser Permanente contracting resources, PAVE enrollment guides, and managed care provider news — in one unified dashboard.
This week's live interactive masterclass is Behavioral Health Services & PMAD Screenings in Doula Practice on Tuesday, August 25 at 10:00 AM PST. DHCS has also released updated screening documentation rules, and regional MCPs (Alameda Alliance, Santa Clara Family Health, Kern) have opened CalAIM ECM maternity transition rosters.
DHCS issued clinical guidance clarifying that doula administration and review of Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) screening tools can be documented and billed under routine perinatal visits (Z1034) when coordinated with licensed maternal mental health providers.
View PMAD Masterclass →Alameda Alliance for Health, Santa Clara Family Health Plan, and Kern Family Health Care have opened credentialing rosters for certified doulas providing CalAIM Enhanced Care Management (ECM) postpartum care transitions.
View Plan Directory →DHCS confirmed that over 1,680 individual doulas are now enrolled in Medi-Cal statewide. The public Medi-Cal Doula Directory has been refreshed for August 2026. Providers can verify their public listing status via PAVE.
Verify Directory Listing →Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP), Central California Alliance for Health (CCAH), and Blue Shield Promise have opened streamlined credentialing windows for contracted bilingual and rural doulas for Q3/Q4 2026.
View Plan Contacts →DHCS hosted its statewide Doula Townhall, clarifying standing order documentation for extended postpartum care (Z1038) and establishing electronic clearinghouse EDI routing for direct claims.
Contact DHCS Liaison →DHCS PAVE portal automated taxonomy cross-checking (374J00000X) has reduced initial application review turnarounds to under 14 business days for complete submission packets.
Access PAVE Portal →To maximize your client referrals and ensure you are listed as an active provider, you should register your doula profile across all official and public directories. Follow the steps below.
Your NPI must be active and registered with the Doula taxonomy code (374J00000X) to be listed in the DHCS directory and bill Medi-Cal. Enter your NPI to verify your registry status.
The Department of Health Care Services maintains the official public-facing list of enrolled Medi-Cal doulas. Follow these steps to ensure you appear on it:
To get referrals for Kaiser Permanente Medi-Cal members, you must contract with the KP Doula Workgroup.
Copy the email template below and send it to the KP Doula Workgroup to request contracting and directory listing:
Managed Care Plans manage 80% of California Medi-Cal members. Reference the official DHCS MCP Doula Contact List (PDF) for direct emails and phone numbers, or submit contracting requests via the portal links below:
Submit a Provider Maintenance Form on their portal to add your NPI and request contracting.
Anthem Portal →Join the Doula network by completing the Health Net Doula Credentialing Application.
Health Net Portal →Send contracting requests to Molina provider relations or submit via provider portal.
Molina Portal →Crucial local plan for San Joaquin / Stanislaus. Access specific doula info and enroll.
HPSJ Doula Portal →Serves Los Angeles County members. Register via L.A. Care provider portal.
L.A. Care Portal →Serves Riverside & San Bernardino. Contact contracting or enroll via portal.
IEHP Portal →Carrot Fertility is a leading employer-sponsored fertility and family-forming benefit. Becoming a vetted provider enables Carrot members to utilize their benefit funds to pay for your doula services.
Carrot Doula Provider Checklist:
Vetting & Enrollment Pathways:
If you have a client with Carrot benefits, ask them to submit a request for your services through their Carrot member portal. Carrot will then email you an expedited provider application link directly.
Send an inquiry email to Carrot Provider Relations. They will reply with their terms and conditions, and once agreed, send you the official link to complete their application form.
Copy the email template below and send it to Carrot Provider Relations to request an application link:
Ensure you are visible to clients performing Google searches by listing on these public directories:
California's premier network of certified, Medi-Cal and BIPOC birth workers. Locate providers in your area, coordinate backup coverage (required for billing), or submit peer-to-peer referrals.
Are you a certified, Medi-Cal registered doula? Submit your practice details below. Once reviewed and verified, we will list you in our registry within 48 hours.
An overview guide explaining the 11 key billing categories and webinar topics for California Medi-Cal doulas:
Description: Perinatal mood and anxiety disorder (PMAD) screening, referrals, non-specialty counseling, and emotional regulation support. Doulas act as crucial front-line screeners using tools like the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) to identify behavioral health needs and refer to clinical specialists.
Recommended Webinar: DHCS Maternal & Youth Mental Health Virtual Services Seminar →
Included in core prenatal/postpartum visitsDescription: Application and instruction on post-operative abdominal binders following a cesarean birth. Must be coordinated with or directed by clinical personnel to ensure proper wound healing, pain management, and pelvic floor decompression.
Recommended Course: Medi-Cal Learning Portal Postpartum Recovery & Physical Support Guidelines →
Billing: Z1034 (Routine Postpartum) or Z1038 (Additional Postpartum)Description: Interdisciplinary collaboration between the doula and the client's clinical care team (OB-GYNs, Certified Nurse Midwives, pediatricians, and social workers). Consists of sharing birth plans, clinical referrals, and care transition updates.
Recommended Webinar: CalAIM Enhanced Care Management (ECM) Case Coordination Guide →
Essential for CalAIM & Enhanced Care ManagementDescription: The primary scope of perinatal care. Includes up to 8 total visits (prenatal and postpartum) and continuous physical, emotional, and advocacy support during labor and active delivery.
Recommended Webinar: Billing for Doula Services Recorded Webinar (HA106RW) →
Billing Code: Z1034 (Visits) & 59409/59620 (Labor)Description: Teaching or facilitating group sessions focused on physiological birth preparation, stages of labor, partner comfort techniques, intervention navigation, and newborn care basics.
Recommended Course: Medi-Cal Learning Portal: Group Class Billing Protocols →
CPT Group Code: 99078Description: Structured, goal-oriented education aligned with the Comprehensive Perinatal Services Program (CPSP). Covers orientation to care, formal risk assessments, individual perinatal education plans, and prenatal vitamin coordination.
Recommended Webinar: CPSP Program Overview & Client Assessments (HA102RW) →
CPSP Service ProtocolsDescription: Safe, non-pharmacological relaxation techniques (like Hypnobirthing) used during pregnancy and labor to lower stress hormones, manage labor discomfort, and maintain physiological focus.
Recommended Webinar: DHCS Non-Specialty Mental Health Services Guidance →
Non-specialty behavioral interventionDescription: Support for physiological chest/breastfeeding. Includes direct positioning instruction, latch assessment, chest pump setup, group classes, and procuring basic supplies (nursing pads, storage bags).
Recommended Webinar: CDPH MCAH Perinatal Lactation Coordination Webcast →
Lactation: Z1034 (Routine Postpartum) or Z1038 (Additional Postpartum)Description: Perinatal nutritional assessment, calorie counseling, weight gain tracking, gestational diabetes diet review, and creating a customized postpartum recovery nutrition plan.
Recommended Course: CPSP Aligned Perinatal Nutrition & Care Plans Training →
CPSP Aligned Perinatal NutritionDescription: Assisting clients in arranging and utilizing Medi-Cal's Non-Medical Transportation (NMT) or Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) to attend prenatal, postpartum, and pediatric appointments.
Recommended Webinar: DHCS Transportation Benefit Onboarding Webinar →
Medi-Cal Benefit coordinationDescription: Directly linking housing-insecure or high-risk pregnant individuals to housing deposits, medically tailored meals, asthma remediation, and environmental accessibility modifications provided under CalAIM Community Supports.
Recommended Webinar: CalAIM Community Supports Referral & Reimbursement Guides →
CalAIM Community Supports integrationAccess our complete, accredited 12-part clinical & Medi-Cal billing masterclass series on-demand. Each high-definition presentation includes verified voiceover instruction, companion workbooks, and clinical study tools.
CMS-1500 claim completion, CPT procedure codes (Z1034), modifier U7/XP rules, and audit-proofing.
Step-by-step PAVE portal walkthrough, NPI taxonomy setup (374J00000X), and 14-day turnaround blueprint.
Full demonstration of our 24-module curriculum, student clinical community, and state-aligned certification pathways.
Derechos lingüísticos bajo el Título VI, glosario perinatal clínico y plantillas en español para doulas latinas.
Integrating EPDS depression screenings, trauma-informed care protocols, and crisis referral pathways.
Physiological support techniques, surgical healing stages, traditional bengkung methods, and safety boundaries.
Interprofessional communication with OB/GYNs and midwives, CalAIM Community Supports integration, and charting.
Navigating Anthem, Health Net, Kaiser, and Blue Shield networks, fee schedules, and single-case agreements.
Curriculum development, group billing codes (S9445/Z1034), syllabus record keeping, and patient engagement.
Comprehensive Perinatal Services Program requirements, nutrition & psychosocial assessments, and billing synergy.
Non-clinical hypnosis techniques for labor comfort, relaxation scripts, and client consent boundaries.
Real claims reconciliation, troubleshooting denial codes (CO-16/CO-18), and practical peer reviews.
Live Tuesday Interactive Sessions • 10:00 AM – 10:40 AM PST • Hosted by Victoria Cortez & Guest Mentors
10:00 AM - 10:40 AM PST • Online (Zoom)
Integrating EPDS depression screening tools, trauma-informed care protocols, and crisis referral pathways.
10:00 AM - 10:40 AM PST • Online (Zoom)
Postpartum physical recovery, traditional bengkung binding, and surgical recovery boundaries.
10:00 AM - 10:40 AM PST • Online (Zoom)
Interprofessional collaboration with OB/GYNs and midwives, CalAIM Community Supports linkage.
10:00 AM - 10:40 AM PST • Online (Zoom)
Anthem, Health Net, Kaiser, and Blue Shield provider contracting and single-case agreement mastery.
10:00 AM - 10:40 AM PST • Online (Zoom)
Group education billing (S9445/Z1034), structured curriculum design, and client retention.
10:00 AM - 10:40 AM PST • Online (Zoom)
CPSP documentation, multidisciplinary perinatal protocols, and Medi-Cal claim integration.
10:00 AM - 10:40 AM PST • Online (Zoom)
Hypnobirthing relaxation techniques, scope boundary clarity, and client consent procedures.
10:00 AM - 10:40 AM PST • Online (Zoom)
Hands-on peer claim audits, denial troubleshooting (CO-16/CO-18), and live Q&A reviews.
Select an upcoming live workshop or access on-demand replay. You will receive direct Zoom links & classroom passcodes via email.
Can't make Tuesdays? Stream all 12 modules on-demand in our Classroom →
Claims, eligibility, and contracting for Northern California KP members
Claims, eligibility, and contracting for Southern California KP members
[email protected] — billing questions, communications, and partnership inquiries
KP online enrollment, credentialing, and contracting applications
Official policy, covered services, eligibility, and Medi-Cal doula benefit guidelines
Provider enrollment, claims, billing manuals, and policy bulletins
Free webinars, billing education, and Medi-Cal provider workshops
Provider Application and Verification for Enrollment — required for Medi-Cal doula billing
Official guidelines for Managed Care Plan partnerships, community care hubs, and delegated billing coordination
Interactive 42-step checklist built specifically for doula providers
The primary DHCS provider enrollment system for all Medi-Cal doulas
Official step-by-step enrollment guide with NPI and taxonomy code requirements
NPI registration, taxonomy codes, credentialing, and enrollment status
Plain-language guide to doula billing terminology, CPT codes, and claim types
GBG's proprietary billing preparation and documentation system for certified providers
Official CPT codes, claim submission instructions, and Medi-Cal reimbursement rates
Provider handbooks, claim forms, timely filing rules, and remittance advice guides
Guided By Grace offers 24-module doula certification with dedicated Medi-Cal billing training, Sovereign Billing documentation, and full PAVE enrollment support. Our graduates are prepared to contract with KP and bill Medi-Cal from day one. Bilingual programming available through Doulas en Español.