Get paid to be a doula in Washington, DC
DC Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF) has reimbursed doulas for their care of Medicaid clients since October 2022. DHCF pays up to $3,882.24 (not inclusive of $100 incentive payment). To bill it, you need training from an approved organization. DTI is one of the choices.
$762.98
Vaginal birth or Cesarean birth attendance$3,828.24
Maximum billable per client, including up to 12 prenatal or postpartum visits.45%
Approximate share of all DC births covered by DHCF.Two ways in, depending on what you've already done.
DHCF credentials doulas who've trained with an organization on its approved list. But if you trained elsewhere, you don't have to start over.
Full-Spectrum Doula Training
Self-paced modules plus live classes virtually with a DTI educator. Most people finish the coursework in about 3 months.
- Trained DTI doulas are eligible to certify as a birth doula
- Once complete, certified for life: no recertification required
Cross Certification Pathway
For doulas whose training organization isn't on DHCF's approved list, or whose certification lapsed. Provide proof of your prior training and certify with DTI instead of repeating a full program.
- Two key DTI course modules, plus your existing proof-of-training
- Same lifetime certification, same approved-org status
- Built for doulas already attending births
Four steps to complete before you can begin billing.
Complete the sequence in order. Most of the confusion about this process happens when doulas try to enroll as a provider before they have completed the state requirements.
Meet basic requirements
Doula providers must be at least eighteen (18) years of age, possess a high school diploma or equivalent, and possess a current certification by a doula training program or organization approved by DHCF.
Complete training & submit certification requirements to DTIor meet alternative
If planning to bill for doula services, you will need to meet the requirements for DTI's full-spectrum doula certification or another approved certification. DTI requirements are listed here.
Enroll as a DHCF provider
This initial enrollment makes doulas eligible to serve FFS Medicaid beneficiaries and allows doulas to enroll in Medicaid MCPs that serve Medicaid, Alliance, and ICP clients. Learn More
Review the DHCF billing manual
The current version of the CMS-1500 claim form must be used to bill DC Medicaid covered services. No other versions of the form will be accepted by the DC Medicaid Program. Learn More
The Billing Process
Three billing codes cover vaginal birth support, Cesarean birth support, or vaginal birth after Cesarean support. Another code covers perinatal visits, and another covers postpartum visits.
DC Medicaid doula benefit
per member pregnancy| Code | Service | Rate | Covered maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99600 – HD | Perinatal Doula Support Visit | $107.89 | $107.89 |
| 59400 – HD | Doula Support at Delivery HD – Vaginal Delivery | $762.98 | $762.98 |
| 59514 - HD | Doula Support at Delivery HD C-section | $762.98 | $762.98 |
| 59612 - HD | Doula Support at Delivery HD VBAC | $762.98 | $762.98 |
| 99199 - HD | Postpartum Doula Support-15 Minute Increment | $13.48 / unit | $53.92 / hour |
| 99199 - HD - U8 | Doula Incentive Payment for Obstetric Postpartum Visit 7 to 84 Days After Labor and Delivery | $100.00 | $100.00 |
| Total billable per client | $3,828.24 | ||
Rates and unit maximums as published by DHCF -- New CY 2026 Rate
A place of service code is also required. Click here for more details.
The DTI full-spectrum doula program is $1,297. One doula client can be reimbursed at $3,828.24. If you support three clients at their birth in one year, your take-home pay will be at least $7,500.
Credentialing states want to make sure the doulas they are reimbursing are properly trained. This is the major reason entities like DHCF have created an approved training program list.
What DC Medicaid does not guarantee
- Training & certification alone does not let you bill. You are not paid by Medicaid until you finish enrollment as a provider, which is a separate process.
- Nobody assigns you clients. Medicaid coverage means the families you find can pay you. Finding them is still your work, and DTI's business curriculum and community are built for that.
- The three-birth requirement of DTI's certification takes time. Most people are looking at several months minimum between training and certification, sometimes longer.
- Rates change. The figures on this page come from the state's published materials and should be verified against the current fee schedule.
There are two ways to qualify
DC credentials doulas with an approved training and certification.
- Complete DTI coursework & reading checklist
- Resource referral list
- Observe a childbirth education class
- Complete Infant & Child CPR
- Support at least 1 client as a labor doula. Support 2 other clients for their labors or for another reproductive health need.
- Support 2 clients as a postpartum doula
- Business strategy outline
- Two brief essays: one describing the role of the doula and another sharing how you wish to make an impact in your community as a doula.
- Complete training or certification with another approved training organization, or complete DTI's Cross-Certification Pathway if you are already trained with an organization not on their list.
- Unfortunately there is no experience or legacy pathway for doulas who are not certified.