Maternity Care Workforce Expansion: Creating New Opportunities for Doulas

As many states seek to improve pregnancy and childbirth outcomes among people of color, strategies to expand the maternity care workforce and implement an accessible doula network are increasingly a priority. For example, New Jersey began providing Medicaid coverage of doula services in January 2021. California is seeking to implement coverage for doulas as part of a broad set of activities to improve maternity care implemented under the SB-65 California Momnibus Act and recent state budget provisions. On March 29, the Center for Health Care Strategies will host a webinar, made possible by the California Health Care Foundation, which will explore challenges and opportunities to expanding the maternity care workforce and highlight California and New Jersey’s experiences in implementing the doula benefit. National and state experts will share key considerations for developing a doula workforce.