How Medi-Cal is Expanding Maternal Health Care

Was Live Tues, June 4, 2024

Related Coverage

• YouTube Playlist of Highlights from this Briefing

Guest Speakers

• Erica Holmes, Chief, Benefits Division, Department of Health Care Services (DHCS)
• Kairis Chiaji, Medi-Cal doula provider
• Khefri Riley, Medi-Cal doula provider

Event Overview

As the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) continues to transform Medi-Cal, it is expanding access to maternal health through doula services, a birthing care pathway for members from conception through 12 months postpartum, parent-child dyadic care, and other benefits for pregnant members, including some over the Medi-Cal income limit.

Doulas are essential to closing racial and ethnic disparities in outcomes for Black, American Indian, Latino, and Asian American and Pacific Islander parents and infants, as doula care can help improve birth outcomes and reduce C-sections, epidurals, premature deliveries, low birthweight, anxiety, and labor length.

At this briefing, a DHCS leader and two doula community health care providers will share how Medi-Cal maternal health programs are helping families and babies live healthier lives through and well beyond conception. Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, covers one in three Californians — or 15 million, including 1.3 million children.

Medi-Cal coverage includes expanded services, like doula visits, to go well beyond the doctor’s office or hospital to meet all of a member’s physical and mental health needs. This is the fourth in a series of briefings exploring the ongoing Medi-Cal transformation to create a whole-person health system for Californians.

Presented by California Department of Health Care Services, California Black Media & Ethnic Media Services