How to enroll as a Medicaid doula in Washington, DC
DC Medicaid (DHCF) · coverage since October 1, 2022 · last checked July 25, 2026
DC has covered doula services through Medicaid, the DC Healthcare Alliance, and the Immigrant Children's Program since October 1, 2022. Under the CY2026 rate transmittal, DC pays $107.89 per perinatal visit, $762.98 for delivery support, and postpartum care in 15-minute units. To enroll, you need an approved certification, liability insurance, a DC PDMS application, and contracts with the managed care plans you intend to bill.
What Medicaid pays
$107.89 per perinatal visit; $762.98 for delivery; postpartum care at $13.48 per 15 minutes
- $107.89 per perinatal doula support visit; $762.98 flat for delivery support (vaginal, cesarean, or VBAC). CY2026 rates per DHCF Transmittal 25-36
- Postpartum visits billed at $13.48 per 15-minute unit (up to 6 hours per visit)
- $100 incentive when your client completes their OB postpartum visit 7–84 days after delivery
- Confirm current codes and rates in the DC Medicaid interactive fee schedule before billing
Up to 12 total service contacts, including delivery attendance, across the perinatal and postpartum periods. The mix of visit types affects total reimbursement. Additional services may be available with prior authorization.
Who can apply
- 18+, high school diploma or equivalent, and current certification from a doula training organization on DHCF's approved list. Check the current transmittal because the list has changed since launch; no experience-only pathway is documented
- Liability insurance at $1M per occurrence / $3M aggregate
- Free Type 1 NPI and W-9; no state enrollment fee
How to enroll
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Step 1
Complete a DHCF-approved doula certification
The approved-organizations list lives in DHCF transmittals and has grown since launch. Verify your program is on the current list before relying on it.
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Step 2
Get your free Type 1 NPI
NPPES, taxonomy 374J00000X. Doula group enrollment (Type 2) is also supported.
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Step 3
Enroll in the DC Provider Data Management System (dcpdms.com)
Standard Application, provider type Doula, as an individual or group. Upload certification, NPI letter, insurance, and W-9.
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Step 4
Contract with the managed care plans
After DHCF approval, you can bill fee-for-service. To serve managed-care members, contact each plan about contracting. Wellpoint DC members are scheduled to move to AmeriHealth Caritas DC on August 1, 2026. Confirm the current plan list before applying.
How you get paid
Complete DHCF enrollment before applying to a managed care plan. DHCF enrollment enables fee-for-service billing, while managed-care members require a contract with their plan. Plans must pay enrolled doulas at least the published fee-for-service rate. Wellpoint DC members are scheduled to transfer to AmeriHealth Caritas DC on August 1, 2026, so verify current plan contacts before applying.
What to plan for
Doulas must complete PDMS enrollment and then contract with the managed care plans they intend to bill. The 2026 plan transition may also change which contacts and applications are current.
Where to get help
- DHCF doula services pages (benefit design, transmittals, and PDMS user guides)
- DC PDMS (enrollment portal) (where the doula provider application lives)
- Mamatoto Village (DC's Black-led perinatal workforce and community doula organization)
Sources and last checked
We checked these details on July 25, 2026.
- DHCF Transmittal 25-36 (CY2026 doula rates)
- DHCF Transmittal 22-34 (qualifications, enrollment, and MCO payment floor)
- DC Medicaid State Plan Amendment 22-0006
- DHCF managed care plan transition
This is general educational information, not legal, billing, or enrollment advice. Rules and rates can change between reviews. Confirm the current provider manual, payment schedule, and health-plan contract before you apply or bill. Junie can create a payment receipt labeled as a superbill, but the current output derives its dates and descriptions from payment records and must be checked against the recipient's requirements. A superbill is not a Medicaid claim. Junie does not currently enroll providers in Medicaid or submit Medicaid claims. Found an error? Email hello@junie.app.