25-315 Doula Support Can Improve Your Patients' Childbirth Experience During Delivery and Pre- and Post-Partum
Date: 04/30/25
Doula support programs now available for Commercial and Marketplace members
Doula services include personal support for women and families throughout a woman's pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum experience. This includes emotional and physical support provided during pregnancy, labor, birth and the postpartum period. In addition, doula services include support during miscarriage, stillbirth or an abortion. Doulas do not replace the doctor or care provider and do not provide medical advice.
Doula support is now available to Health Net HMO, PPO and POS (Commercial and Marketplace) members.
Doula programs available
Members are offered a choice between two doula programs at no cost. A member may choose support under the Individual Doula Program or the Mahmee Virtual Doula program , but not both.
1 Individual doula services. Members can receive doula services in person or virtually during the pregnancy in any setting, such as home, office, hospital or an alternative birthing center. Services include but are not limited to:
- An initial visit.
- Up to eight additional visits, including pre- and post-birth visits. All visits are limited to one per day, per member.
- Support during labor and birth.
- Up to two additional visits after birth to discuss breast feeding, mental health, and other concerns. Visits may last up to three hours.
2 Mahmee virtual doula. Mahmee offers virtual doula services via the Mahmee mobile app that is designed to better connect new moms with health care and support. Enrolled members get access to their digital program and access to a team of experts (wrap-around maternity support team) that includes doulas, registered nurses, lactation consultants, mental health coaches, nutrition coaches, infant feeding specialists and care coordinators. Providers connected to the Mahmee system can receive shared information. Services include but are not limited to:
- Initial intake visit.
- Unlimited prenatal visits.
- Support during labor and birth.
- Unlimited postpartum visits.
- Up to two extended in-person postpartum visits (where available); visits may last up to three hours.
- Members may work with one or more doulas during virtual and in-person visits.
- Mahmee offers in-person visits in select counties based on availability. Physicians and other providers can refer members to Mahmee directly.
Help members enroll in one of our doula programs
Program | Contact | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Individual doula services | Providers can call Health Net Provider Services 24 hours a day, 7 days week at the number listed below or have members call the Health Net Member Services number listed on the back of their identification card.
| ||||||
Mahmee app | Advise members to call 818-431-1118, weekdays from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Pacific time (PT) or weekends from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT and speak to a Mahmee representative, confirm eligibility, and enroll the member. Members can also register online at Mahmee webpage and select eligibility. |
Learn more about doula services
To learn more about doula services, eligibility, coordinating services, assistive services during visits or non-covered services, please refer to Provider Update 24-1270, New: Doula Services Offered to Commercial Plans Starting January 1, 2025 issued on December 23, 2024. Also refer to doula flyer, 25-316, Great news! Doula Support Programs Now Available for Commercial Members (PDF).
Additional information
Relevant sections of Health Net’s provider operations manuals have been revised to reflect the information contained in this update as applicable. Provider operations manuals are available electronically in the Provider Library on Health Net’s provider portal.
If you have questions regarding the information contained in this update, contact the applicable Health Net Provider Services Center by email, by phone or through the Health Net provider portal.
Provider Services
Line of business | Phone number |
|---|---|
Ambetter from Health Net IFP Ambetter PPO | |
Ambetter HMO | |
Health Net Employer Group HMO, POS, & PPO | |
Behavioral Health providers |
This information applies to Physicians, Participating Physician Groups (PPGs), Ancillary Providers, and Behavioral Health Providers.