Public Health Doula Skills: Practical Workflows for Ethical, Sustainable Medicaid Doula Care

Medicaid-funded doula work can be deeply impactful, and uniquely vulnerable to administrative overload and unpaid labor when managed care organization (MCO) billing systems are confusing. Designed as a companion to the keynote on the overall Medicaid landscape, this session takes the conversation from awareness to action. In this session, Terry Wong will simulate the process and experience of becoming a Medicaid doula. This Live Lab has three parts: (1) participants will learn how to assess whether Medicaid work fits their business model; (2) what additional skills and compliance practices are required, including enrollment, documentation, and HIPAA-aware workflows; and (3) how to begin servicing Medicaid clients, from conducting intakes to checking eligibility. Using a practical comparison of three states’ coverage structures, visit types, and MCO realities, Terry offers doulas public health-informed workflows to deliver ethical, culturally responsive support while protecting their sustainability. Through case simulations, live polls, and skills practice, attendees will build a state-aligned, equitable service blueprint and leave with Medicaid enrollment requirement checklists, a client tracking and billing cheat sheet, and plug-and-play scripts and templates.