Frequently Asked Questions

A billing service sustained by a member-owned cooperative of community doulas. The RIBWC was founded in response to the 2022 RI Doula Reimbursement Act to ensure doulas can take care of themselves and their clients, with a streamlined billing process, without being associated with any hospital or medical provider.

You do not need to be a member of RIBWC in order to take insurance as a doula.

We offer two membership tiers; our standard membership ($100/annually) allows a doula to become a member-owner and receive support navigating the insurance contracting process, from Medicaid to Commercial Payer contracts via peer support and weekly office hours. Our billing membership ($60/monthly) gives a doula that has established “in-network provider” status access to 

• our EMR platform

• twice-weekly billing

• claims troubleshooting assistance

• listing on our “Insurance Providers” page

• monthly update meetings 

in addition to the perks of standard membership!

The RIBWC Doula Ethical Code states that doulas shall not discriminate on the basis of identity. As an organization that requires our doulas to certify and uphold these ethical standards, we believe in prioritizing families who are insured via Medicaid and equitable access to care.

Each RI-based payer has a different application to become an in-network provider which all take a varying amount of time to complete. Providers typically receive a response to their application inquiry within 30 days and an established contract within 3 months of a completed application.

The Medicaid (minimum) reimbursement rates for doula support are the following:

• $100/visit

• $900/end of pregnancy event (birth - abortion - loss**)

The doula benefit generally covers 3 prenatal visits, 3 postpartum visits, and birth/abortion support. Commercial plan rates vary due to benefit fluctuations and plan-specific deductibles.  For specific rates, it is best practice to inquire with each plan directly.

Via our EMR, the doula logs a client’s insurance information and demographics, in addition to completed visits or end of pregnancy events. Claims attached to provider-client interactions are electronically submitted to the insurance company by our billing administrator. The payment then goes directly to the doula’s bank account or a check is mailed within 30 days. 

No, as a member-owner, you will not be an employee of the cooperative, nor do you have to pay taxes on the co-ops behalf. As an in-network provider, you will receive W2’s from each payer you are contracted with directly and are encouraged to keep a log of all business transactions for your own records. 

Though we may receive external referrals from community providers or share referrals internally, the RIBWC is not a doula agency, and we do not promise clients to our member-owners. Our main focus as an organization is providing billing support for doulas and their families. 

Medicaid and most health insurance payers do cover homebirth doula support. Neighborhood Health of RI Commercial plans do not cover homebirth. 

Medicaid and most health insurance payers do cover abortion doula support, with some exceptions. For abortion support, please reach out to Rhode Island Abortion Doulas.