Healthy Habits - Medicaid Doula Coverage Map

 

As federal Medicaid cuts take effect and states move in different directions on maternal health policy, reporters are often left without a clear, up-to-date picture of where doula care is actually covered. To help fill that gap, the National Health Law Program (NHeLP) has launched a new Doula Medicaid Interactive Map, a visual, easy-to-use tool that tracks state Medicaid coverage for doula services across the country. The map comes at a pivotal moment. Half of all states and Washington, DC now reimburse doula care through Medicaid, and in 2025 alone, five states enacted new laws requiring such coverage. At the same time, the passage of H.R. 1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” is already reshaping Medicaid funding and access nationwide, including for people who are pregnant, birthing, postpartum, and post-pregnancy. For reporters covering maternal health, health policy, Medicaid, or health inequities, the map provides: A quick way to verify which states cover doula care through Medicaid A visual comparison of state approaches and implementation status Reliable context for stories on maternal mortality, birth equity, and Medicaid policy changes Research consistently shows that doula care improves maternal health outcomes and helps protect against bias in clinical settings. As states expand coverage and federal policy creates new barriers, understanding where and how doula care is available has become essential for accurate reporting. NHeLP will continue to maintain its detailed State Efforts Chart alongside the new interactive map for reporters and researchers who prefer a data-table format.

About NHeLP Founded in 1969, the National Health Law Program (NHeLP) protects and advances the health rights of low-income and underserved individuals and families. NHeLP advocates, educates and litigates at the federal and state levels. Our lawyers and policy analysts stand up for the rights of the millions of people who struggle to access affordable, quality health care. We are guided by the belief—a challenge—that each generation should live better than the last.