Oregon Health Authority
Health Systems Division: Medical Assistance Programs - Chapter 410
Division 130
MEDICAL-SURGICAL SERVICES
410-130-0015
Doula Services
(1) The primary purpose of providing birth doula services as a member of the birthing team is to optimize birth outcomes, including prevention of preterm births, fewer neonatal intensive care admissions, reduced Caesarean sections, reduced epidural use, and improved member experience of birthing care. These services are provided during the prenatal, labor and delivery, and postpartum phases of the member’s pregnancy. Pregnant women or pregnant persons experiencing health disparities are expected to benefit most from birth doula services, including the following:
(a) A pregnant woman or pregnant person with a racially or ethnically diverse background including, Black/African American, Asian, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Native American, Latino/Latina/Latine, or multiracial;
(b) A pregnant woman or pregnant person experiencing houselessness;
(c) A pregnant woman or pregnant person who speaks limited to no English;
(d) A pregnant woman or pregnant person who has limited to no family or partner support;
(e) A pregnant woman or pregnant person who is under the age of 21.
(2) Pursuant to § 440.130(c), doula services shall be recommended by a physician or other licensed birth provider acting within the scope of authorized practice under State law.
(3) Birth doula providers shall meet the following requirements at the time services are provided:
(a) Shall be enrolled with the Authority as a Traditional Health Worker (THW) pursuant to OAR 410-180-0300.
(b) Shall be certified as a birth doula pursuant to OAR 410-180-0315.
(c) Shall be registered with the Authority pursuant to OAR 410-180-0325 through 410-180-0327.
(4) Birth doula providers shall document services provided for each encounter. The birth doula’s record shall include the dates of service, a brief description of education or services provided, assessment of any client or member needs beyond routine care, and any referrals made. The goal of documentation is to verify services were provided and facilitate communication with other members of the birthing team.
(5) The Authority will pay for birth doula services for any woman or pregnant person whose benefit package covers labor and delivery.
(6) Payment for birth doula services:
(a) For a member enrolled in Fee for Service (FFS) medical programs:
(A) To be considered for payment, birth doula services shall be billed on a professional claim and shall include the unique Medicaid modifier of U9 appended to the appropriate obstetrical codes;
(B) Birth doula care shall be billed as a global birth doula package. A global package shall include at a minimum two prenatal face-to-face visits, care during the labor and delivery phase, and two postpartum face-to-face visits;
(C) Itemized billing, i.e., billing the day-of-delivery as a standalone and billing separate prenatal and postpartum visits, is allowed in extenuating circumstances. Extenuating circumstances include but are not limited to when the primary birth doula is not able to attend the delivery and a backup birth doula provides services or when a mother is late to care making scheduling two prenatal face-to-face visits impossible:
(i) When appropriate due to extenuating circumstances, services rendered by multiple birth doulas for the same pregnancy may be itemized for billing;
(ii) Reimbursement of itemized services, regardless of the number of birth doulas serving the member, may not exceed the global package total.
(D) Billing for birth doula services shall include:
(i) Using CPT 59400+U9, 59510+U9, 59610+U9, or 59618+U9 one time for a global birth doula package;
(ii) Using CPT 59899+U9 for each encounter up to four encounters and one delivery-only code + U9 for the day-of-delivery in the case of itemized billing. Acceptable day-of-delivery-only codes are: 59409+U9, 59514+U9, 59612+U9, or 59620+U9;
(iii) Claim only one global birth doula package per pregnancy. A global birth doula package may not be billed together with any of the itemized birth doula services codes for the same pregnancy.
(E) Birth doula services may only be billed once per pregnancy. Multiples (i.e., twins, triplets) are not eligible for additional payment;
(F) Only an enrolled birth doula, provider type designation 13/600, may be the rendering provider for birth doula services.
(b) For a member enrolled in CCO medical programs, payment shall be according to OARs governing CCO provider payment.
Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 413.042 & ORS 414.065
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 414.065
History:
DMAP 57-2021, amend filed 12/30/2021, effective 01/01/2022
DMAP 33-2021, temporary amend filed 07/23/2021, effective 07/23/2021 through 01/18/2022
DMAP 19-2018, amend filed 04/02/2018, effective 04/02/2018
DMAP 39-2017, temporary amend filed 10/03/2017, effective 10/04/2017 through 04/04/2018
DMAP 38-2017, amend filed 10/03/2017, effective 10/03/2017
DMAP 17-2017(Temp), f. 5-24-17, cert. ef. 5-25-17 thru 10-27-17
DMAP 13-2017(Temp), f. 4-28-17, cert. ef. 5-1-17 thru 10-27-17
DMAP 73-2013, f. 12-31-13, cert. ef. 1-1-14