The Families' Right to Doula Care Toolkit

"Hi, I'm [X] weeks pregnant and need a Medi-Cal doula provider to support me. How do I get one for pregnancy and postpartum? How can I learn about my rights to a doula, and where can I find a list of doulas available to me on Medi-Cal? If I find a doula of my choice who I feel can best serve me but who is not contracted, how can they become contracted in time to support my pregnancy, birth, and/or postpartum? Will you offer them a Letter of Agreement to support me if they aren't contracted? I'm trying to do more than just survive — I want to thrive. Can you help me access a doula in time? I heard more doulas are needed in our county and state — are you contracting more doulas?"

"Hi, my doctor or clinician said I didn't need a doula, but I didn't feel that answer informed me of my rights or supported my ability to make an informed decision about my care team. How can I report this? How can I learn more about how doula care offers evidence-based support that can improve birth outcomes for me and my baby? I heard more doulas are needed in our county and state — are you contracting more doulas?"

"Hi, my mommy is pregnant with my sibling. We need a doula. I want my parent and my new sibling to be healthy and cared for. How can we learn about her rights to a doula, how doulas help, and how to get a doula? Can you help us?"

"Hi, I'm actively trying to become pregnant and would like to learn how a doula can support me, my rights to a doula, and how I can search for one with my plan. If I find a doula of my choice who is not contracted, how can they become contracted in time to support my pregnancy, birth, and/or postpartum? Can you help me stay prepared as part of my preventative care? I heard more doulas are needed in our county and state — are you contracting more doulas?"

"Hi, I'm not trying to become pregnant right now. But how would I go about getting a doula if I did become pregnant? Do you have doulas that support abortion if I decided not to continue a pregnancy? Is there a list of doulas available to me on Medi-Cal? In the event of an unplanned pregnancy I just want to be informed and prepared. Can you help me stay prepared as part of my preventative care? I heard more doulas are needed — are you contracting more doulas?"

"Hello, my name is [optional: your name] and I'm calling as a concerned [resident / doula / Medi-Cal member] from [your county]. I'm calling to urge immediate action on the implementation of the Medi-Cal Doula Benefit. Right now, families are being denied their right to access doula care because of systemic barriers. I'm asking you to: contract more doulas and remove current contracting barriers; ensure sustainable pay through administrative fees and timely payments that prevent delays and denials; remove unrealistic insurance requirements that are financially out of reach and don't fit the doula profession; and increase transparency and accountability in the roll-out of this benefit. We cannot continue to leave families unsupported during and after pregnancy. What is being done in our district to address these issues?"

Subject: Urgent Action Needed: Protecting Access to Doula Care in [your county]

Dear [official / organization name],

I'm writing as a [your role in your family or community] and a concerned resident of [your county] to address the critical need for transparency and accountability in the roll-out of the Medi-Cal Doula Benefit.

Support during birth is a human right, yet families in our community are being denied access to the doula of their choice. Managed care plans may define "enough doulas" based on the few people who know about the service — but that does nothing for the countless families on Medi-Cal giving birth now and in the future who never learn they have this right.

To ensure families have sustained access to essential care, I urge you to: remove contracting barriers and contract more doulas; address financial sustainability with administrative fees and on-time claims, without the current delays and denials; remove unrealistic insurance requirements (such as umbrella or cyber insurance) that are financially prohibitive and don't apply to independent doulas; and prioritize accountability for the inconsistent administrative support failing both doulas and families.

[Optionally, share a brief personal experience or story that shows why this is urgent.]

Families in [your county] rely on this benefit for safe, evidence-based care. I look forward to hearing how you plan to address these barriers. Sincerely, [your name, phone, city/county]

"Hi! I'm taking action to make sure birthing families can access the doula care they're entitled to as a human right. Families on Medi-Cal are being denied support because of administrative barriers, payment delays, and not enough contracted doulas — and the DHCS and managed care plans need to fix it. Can you take 2 minutes to contact your local officials? Everything you need is right here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1yR04741sLLEfSVrNOV6u8eE5gMDCs-AX"

"Hey! I'm supporting a campaign to secure doula care as a human right for all families. Right now, systemic issues — like unrealistic insurance requirements and delayed payments — are blocking doulas from being contracted, leaving families without care. We're pressuring managed care plans and the DHCS to remove these roadblocks. Do you have a few minutes to call or email your local officials? Everything you need is here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1yR04741sLLEfSVrNOV6u8eE5gMDCs-AX"