Facilitators and Barriers to Medicaid Doula Benefit Implementation in California: Perspectives From Managed Care Plans and Risk-Bearing Organizations.

Introduction: Medicaid coverage of doula services is increasing as a policy strategy to reduce maternal health inequities in the United States. However, early adopter states struggled to offer accessible, equitable Medicaid doula benefits when implementation began. California began covering doula services through its Medicaid program, Medi-Cal, in 2023.