Federal recognition has been a key federal priority for NACPM since 2007.
Federal recognition of the CPM will be achieved by amending the Social Security Act, which houses the Medicare and Medicaid laws, to mandate federal Medicaid reimbursement for CPM services. Inclusion in the Social Security Act is critical for health professions, not only mandating Medicaid reimbursement, but opening doors for inclusion of CPMs in the systems of care, health professional education, and reimbursement that define the delivery of health care in our country.
The Institute for Medicaid Innovation and Every Mother Counts are currently hosting a comprehensive and actionable virtual learning series to equip state Medicaid agencies, Medicaid health plans, provider groups, professional associations, and other Medicaid stakeholders with an awareness of community-based doulas and perinatal community health workers and their services, the evidence supporting their benefits and cost-effectiveness, and their potential to improve health equity in Medicaid.
The Learning Series is free and available to the public and NACPM will be posting the session recordings here on our website so that as a community, we can learn together.
Session #1: High-Value, Equitable, & Evidence-Based Community-Based Perinatal Support
Session Description: This session provides an overview of community-based perinatal support models, defines community based doulas and perinatal community health workers, and shares the evidence base for these models. The session provides information on the importance of community-based perinatal support in advancing birth equity.
Learning Objectives:
1. Identify definitions, elements, and scope of work of community-based doulas and perinatal community health workers.
2. Identify the evidence supporting community-based doulas and perinatal community health workers as cost-effective strategies to improve outcomes, member experience, and birth equity.
3. Identify public health policies related to community-based doulas and perinatal community health workers.