Doula Connect

To get the latest updates from the Maryland Department of Health about the Medicaid doula benefit, email mdh.medicaidmch@maryland.gov and request to be added to their distribution list.

The Maryland Department of Health has been re-engaged by doulas and stakeholders in November 2023. Quarterly meetings will be announced in 2024. Our goal is to pull in as many doulas who are interested as possible to this stakeholder group and ongoing advocacy efforts. 

If you would like to receive updates from Maryland Department of Health in regards to the doula program, please email them and request to be added to their listserv at mdh.medicaidmch@maryland.gov.

Latest updates from the Maryland Department of Health re stakeholder meeting 11/16/2023:

*Time-sensitive updates and requests are in bold

"Here is a summary of the agreements that we noted:

• MDH will schedule ePREP Technical Assistance webinars at a variety of times that can be accessible to doulas (see below);

• MDH agrees to schedule quarterly meetings with doula stakeholders in 2024;

• MDH (both Medicaid and Public Health teams) will continue working to set up a Legacy pathway approach that is done in coordination with doulas;

• For future nomination processes for Medicaid Certification Organizations, MDH will include both google forms as well as hard copy attachments as applications; MDH will invite doula stakeholders to pilot test the google form prior to issuing it broadly, to ensure accessibility and ease of use.

Here are a few updates that we want you to be aware of since we last met:

• New Certification Organization Request for Nominations - closed 11/16/23; MDH received a robust response and is currently evaluating these applications;  

• Doula Hub reposted - closed 10/27/23; currently under review;

• Opportunity for Public Comment on proposed changes to doula regulations starts 12/1/23.  The purpose of this action is to: 

  • (1) Remove the list of approved doula organizations and fees from the regulations and appropriately reference the existing Professional Services Provider Manual and Fee Schedule incorporated by reference under COMAR 10.09.02.07D; and

  • (2) Add doula services to the self-referred services list for Managed Care Organizations, effective through December 31, 2025.

• Please see the following link to learn more about the proposed regulation changes: https://2019-dsd.maryland.gov/MDRIssues/5024/Assembled.aspx  

• Comments may be sent to Jourdan Green, Director, Office of Regulation and Policy Coordination, Maryland Department of Health, 201 West Preston Street, Room 512, Baltimore, MD 21201, or call 410-767-6499 (TTY 800-735-2258), or email to mdh.regs@maryland.gov. Comments will be accepted through January 2, 2024. A public hearing has not been scheduled.

We would also like to let you know that the following dates have now been scheduled for ePREP Doula Technical Assistance training webinars in December and January (registration/meeting link information was sent today in a separate email from mdh.medicaidmch@maryland.gov):

• Webinar #1: Tuesday, December 5th, 1:00-2:00pm  meet.google.com/bay-ubzo-qsp 

• Webinar #2: Saturday, December 9th, 9:00-10:00am meet.google.com/kwk-piia-sbh   

• Webinar #3: Friday, January 19th, 5:30-6:30am meet.google.com/jio-qhhm-zof 

• Webinar #4: Thursday, January 25th, 6:00-7:00pm meet.google.com/zag-rrhy-tjo 

We plan to record the webinars, which will each begin with a presentation, and then follow with live Q&As from participants at the end of each presentation.  The recorded webinars will be posted to our website.  We will also be sharing a helpful Powerpoint and supporting documents relating to billing and claiming, since we’ve received questions from doulas on that topic as well. "