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18 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • April 2021 Paying for a Paying for a What options are available? What options are available? DOULA SPONSORED MATERIAL Doula care is gaining popularity and for good reason. Evidence Based Birth, the American College of Ob- stetricians and Gynecologists and even royal families are saying, "Yes! hire the doula" Doula costs vary greatly from region to region. In our area, the cost of doula support ranges anywhere from $750-$2,500. These costs vary with the level of experience, training and cer fica ons. For most families, this takes a bit of financial planning. Here are a few op ons to consider when planning. INSURANCE COVERAGE? Probably not. But try anyway. Virginia is among 21 states, as well as Washington, D.C., proposing Medicaid coverage for doula support. The state of Virginia Senate Finance and Appropria- ons Commi ee recently voted unanimously to add this coverage and hopefully it will go into effect very soon. Medicaid is looking to doula care as a promis- ing approach to dealing with dispari es in maternal health outcomes and infant mortality, especially in Black, Na ve American and Pacific Islander women. It is logical to think that once doula care is covered by Medicaid, private insurance companies will soon follow. But as of this wri ng, insurance coverage is fairly uncommon, especially in Virginia. However, it is certainly worth looking into. It doesn't hurt to ask, so a call to your health insur- ance provider is recommended. HSA AND FSA? Yes! You might be surprised to hear that your Health Sav- ings Account or your Flexible Spending Account will cover 100% of a doula's fees. Things you will need to submit along with your HSA or FSA claim: • A "le er of necessity" from your obstetrician or midwife, dated prior to receiving doula services • An itemized invoice "Superbill" from your doula ADDING DOULA SUPPORT TO YOUR BABY REGISTRY Just how many onesies or cute li le socks does a newborn really need, especially dur- ing a pandemic? Instead, ask your loved ones for a gi that will have a las ng impact on you and your partner, as well as your baby. In this me of social distancing, when it may not be advis- able for your family and friends to be physically present to support you, gi ing doula support is a great op on. Many doulas do offer gi cer ficates. The really neat thing is that you can add these gi cer ficates to the online registry Baby List. You will just need to talk with your doula to get the needed link to add to your registry. SETTING UP A PAYMENT PLAN Frequently you'll find doulas require a retainer fee upon signing a contract. The retainer fee "holds your place" on their calendar, and the remainder of the fee is due by 36 weeks. This ensures that all the financial obliga ons are met before your doula goes "on call" for you at 38 weeks. If there are extenua ng circumstances, your doula will most likely be happy to set up a payment plan that works for you. Just ask! WORK WITH A 'STUDENT DOULA' WORKING TOWARDS CERTIFICATION Many doula cer fica on organiza ons, including DONA Interna onal, require prospec ve doulas to provide birth doula labor support to several clients and provide thorough documenta on and evalua ons of services by health care providers and the birthing parent. Many student doulas offer greatly reduced rates, and many doula agen- cies have student doulas on their team, offering the student mentoring opportuni es. If helping out a student doula earn their cer fica on appeals to you, and you're will- ing to fill out the evalua on forms, this might be a great op on for you and definitely worth considering. READY TO ADD DOULA SUPPORT TO YOUR BIRTH PLAN OR HAVE MORE QUESTIONS? Reach out to us at A Mother's Perspec ve Doula Services. We're happy to answer your ques ons and provide you with more details about making doula care fit into your budget. For more informa on, email jennifer@mothersperspec ve.com or visit our website, mothersperspec ve.com. For more informa on, and to get your FREE Checklist: Ques ons to Ask When Hiring a Doula., email jennifer@mothersperspec ve.com, or visit our website, mothersperspec ve.com.