Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois is expanding maternal health coverage to include doulas, licensed certified professional midwives, lactation consultants and maternal home visit providers.
This development applies to all lines of business, including Medicaid, the insurer confirmed to Becker’s.
“Historically, commercial coverage did not include doulas or maternal home visitors,” a BCBS Illinois spokesperson said.
The coverage expansion builds upon the insurer’s Special Beginnings program, which offers confidential pregnancy and postpartum assistance, according to a May 28 news release.
Several large insurers have also been leaning into doula care, specifically. Doulas do not offer clinical services, but rather provide physical, emotional and informational support surrounding childbirth. Rhonda Randall, DO, chief medical officer for UnitedHealthcare’s employer and individual business, told Becker’s in March that the insurer was the first to offer employer-sponsored and commercial doula coverage “at this scale across plans nationwide.” Like BCBS Illinois, some payers have backed doula training and workforce initiatives, as well.
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