Virginia Project Offers Doula Training Scholarships

- Virginia began covering doula services for Medicaid members on January 1, 2022, making it the fourth state in the U.S. to do so. The current reimbursement rate is $859 for up to eight prenatal/postpartum visits and labor support, with additional incentive payments available for connecting clients to postpartum and newborn clinical care. - The push to expand the doula workforce comes as Virginia has seen a 25% reduction in the number of birthing hospitals since 2012, increasing travel distances and contributing to maternity care deserts. This has disproportionately affected rural and underserved communities. - Research demonstrates that doula-assisted mothers are four times less likely to have a low-birth-weight baby and half as likely to experience a birth complication. The positive effects of doula care are often greater for socially disadvantaged women. - Despite the Medicaid benefit, a significant gap in access remains; less than 1% of pregnant women on Medicaid received doula services between January 2022 and December 2024. Of the 130 doulas enrolled as Medicaid providers, fewer than half have billed for their services, often due to complexities in the claims process. - To become a state-certified doula and a Medicaid provider in Virginia, individuals must complete training from a state-approved entity, which can cost between $350 and $1,200 depending on the program. They must then register with the Virginia Certification Board and contract with each of the state's Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs). - This workforce initiative complements other legislative efforts aimed at addressing maternity care shortages, such as a 2025 bill designed to remove barriers that prevent nurse-midwives from practicing to the full extent of their training.