Individuals enrolled in Apple Health (Medicaid), Public Employees Benefits Board, and School Employees Benefits Board coverage - and those accessing behavioral health services - will not experience a disruption in care due to the federal government shutdown. In addition, health care providers will continue to be paid for the services they provide. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and share updates if anything changes.
Find information on the Apple Health (Medicaid) birth doula benefit including background, covered services, provider enrollment, how to stay updated, and more.
When do reimbursements begin?
Apple Health doula reimbursement begins January 1, 2025.
Birth doulas are trained nonclinical professionals who provide emotional, physical, psychosocial, and informational support to pregnant, birthing, post-pregnant people, and their families.
Evidence supports doulas improving outcomes across a range of metrics for this population, including infants, and a larger positive impact for Black, Indigenous, and other people of color. There has long been support in Washington for increasing access to doulas, especially for people on Apple Health.
During the 2024 legislative session, Governor Inslee signed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5950 into law authorizing the Health Care Authority (HCA) to implement a doula benefit for Apple Health (Medicaid) clients. HCA was allocated funding for:
View the Washington doula hub and referral system legislative report.
During the 2023 legislative session, Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1881, codified under chapter 18.47 RCW, created birth doulas (doula) as a new health profession in Washington. The rules establish the profession’s education, training, and certification requirements.
This resulted in a voluntary credential, meaning that an individual does not need to be credentialed in Washington state to provide doula services. However, the title “state-certified birth doula” cannot be used unless the person has the Department of Health state birth doula credential.
Learn more by visiting Department of Health’s Birth Doula webpage.
The Apple Health (Medicaid) birth doula benefit covers:
For more details about coverage, see the birth doula services billing guide.
To become an Apple Health (Medicaid) birth doula, providers must:
To learn more about provider enrollment, visit Become an Apple Health provider.
HCA has filed and finalized the rules for the birth doula benefit, effective August 25, 2025.
To stay connected to our doula work, subscribe to the doulas mailing list.
Older items are available upon request.
| Date | Information session | Resources |
|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2025 | ProviderOne for doulas |
| Date | Email list updates |
|---|---|
| June 9, 2025 | ProviderOne info session for doulas |
| December 23, 2024 | Birth doula services billing guide now available |
|
December 20, 2024 |
Birth doula benefit launches January 1 |
| October 9, 2024 | Doulas community meeting slides (10/9/2024) |
| September 27, 2024 | Doulas community meeting October 9 |
| August 7, 2024 | Doulas community meeting August 12 |
| August 1, 2024 | Doulas community meeting August 12 |
| July 12, 2024 | Birth doulas: Apply for your National Provider Identifier (NPI) |
| July 11, 2024 | Documents available for doulas meeting July 25 |
| July 3, 2024 | Doulas community meeting - Thursday, July 25 |
| May 8, 2024 | Birth doula benefit rulemaking initiated |
| April 11, 2024 | Update on Legislative action for Apple Health doula benefit |
| March 21, 2024 | Doula services frequently asked questions |
| September 14, 2023 | Birth doula rules adopted and filed |
Email: HCA Doulas
