For California doulas
Medi-Cal plan contracting for doulas: every plan, county by county
A Medi-Cal enrollment lets you bill fee-for-service Medi-Cal, but most members are in a managed care plan, and each plan contracts doulas its own way. Here’s every plan we’ve researched, what each publishes, and which counties they serve.
Updated October 5, 2026
Enroll with Medi-Cal first
DHCS sets three steps for getting paid by a Medi-Cal managed care plan: enroll as a Medi-Cal provider through PAVE, meet the plan’s credentialing requirements, and sign a contract with that plan. Most plans want your PAVE approval (or at least your application) before they’ll start. See how to become a Medi-Cal doula.
Find the plans in your county
Most Medi-Cal members belong to a managed care plan, and the plans differ by county: some counties have one county plan, others have two or more (for example L.A. Care plus its Plan Partners in Los Angeles). Start with the county table below, and run an eligibility check on each client to see which plan they’re actually in.
Contract with each plan, on its terms
Plans differ more than you’d expect: some need a Type 2 (organization) NPI, some want $1M/$3M liability coverage and some don’t list any, timelines run from about 45 days to several months, and a few bill through their own portal. Each guide below follows that plan’s own provider material and dates its sources. You can contract with as many plans as you like.
Use DHCS’s contact lists, and escalate if you’re stuck
DHCS publishes each plan’s doula contacts for contracting and onboarding and for billing, claims and payment (October 2025). If you’re having trouble with a specific plan, DHCS asks doulas to email DoulaBenefit@dhcs.ca.gov with the details.
County Medi-Cal plans
- Alameda Alliance for HealthAlameda CountyPublishes its doula process
- CalOptima HealthOrange CountyProcess not published: contacts and general steps
- CenCal HealthSanta Barbara and San Luis Obispo countiesPublishes its doula process
- Central California Alliance for HealthMonterey, Santa Cruz, Merced, San Benito and Mariposa countiesPublishes its doula process
- Community Health Group Partnership PlanSan Diego CountyProcess not published: contacts and general steps
- Contra Costa Health Plan (CCHP)Contra Costa CountyPublishes its doula process
- Gold Coast Health PlanVentura CountyPublishes its doula process
- Health Plan of San Joaquin / Mountain Valley Health PlanSan Joaquin, Stanislaus, El Dorado and Alpine countiesProcess not published: contacts and general steps
- Health Plan of San Mateo (HPSM)San Mateo CountyPublishes its doula process
- Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP)Riverside and San Bernardino countiesProcess not published: contacts and general steps
- Kern Family Health Care (Kern Health Systems)Kern CountyPublishes its doula process
- L.A. Care Health PlanLos Angeles CountyPublishes its doula process
- Partnership HealthPlan of CaliforniaNorthern CaliforniaPublishes its doula process
- San Francisco Health Plan (SFHP)San FranciscoProcess not published: contacts and general steps
- Santa Clara Family Health Plan (SCFHP)Santa Clara CountyPublishes its doula process
Commercial carriers’ Medi-Cal plans
These insurers run Medi-Cal plans in several counties, sometimes as partners of a county plan.
- Anthem Blue Cross (Medi-Cal)Anthem Medi-Cal countiesPublishes its doula process
- Blue Shield of California Promise Health PlanLos Angeles and San Diego countiesProcess not published: contacts and general steps
- Health Net, CalViva Health and Community Health Plan of Imperial ValleyHealth Net, CalViva and Imperial Valley countiesPublishes its doula process
- Molina Healthcare of California (Medi-Cal)Molina Medi-Cal countiesPublishes its doula process
Kaiser Permanente is also a Medi-Cal plan in many counties and contracts doulas separately; see the Kaiser step in how to become a Medi-Cal doula.
Plans by county
Counties covered by the guides on this page. It isn’t a complete list of every plan in every county (Kaiser and some carrier counties aren’t shown), so always confirm a client’s plan with an eligibility check.
These guides summarize each plan’s published material for convenience and are not billing or legal advice. Plans change their processes and contacts; confirm with the plan before you apply or bill.