For doulas in Kern County
How to get contracted with Kern Family Health Care as a doula
Kern Family Health Care, run by Kern Health Systems (KHS), is the local Medi-Cal plan in Kern County. KHS publishes a dedicated doula application and its network requirements, including one that catches people out: you need to have been located and working in Kern County for at least a year. Here’s the process in order.
Updated October 5, 2026
- County
- Kern
- Must-haves
- DHCS Medi-Cal approval; located and serving in Kern County for 1+ year
- First step
- Contract Inquiry form to PRcontracting@khs-net.com
- Doula application
- Doula Birth Worker Attestation Check-List
- Timeline
- Contract specialist replies in 5–10 business days; credentialing another 60–120 days
- Claims and payment
- Electronic claims and electronic funds transfer required
Check KHS’s network requirements
KHS lists these requirements for every provider joining its network:
- Enrolled and approved in DHCS’s Medi-Cal fee-for-service program (through PAVE). KHS asks you to check that your enrollment, including your place-of-business address, matches your application and NPI before you apply.
- Physically located in and providing services in Kern County for at least one year.
- In good standing with KHS, and meeting all credentialing requirements.
- Able to submit claims electronically, and to join KHS’s electronic funds transfer (EFT) program.
Need to enroll first? See how to become a Medi-Cal doula.
Send the Contract Inquiry form
Fill in the KHS Contract Inquiry form (doulas use “Other” for the service type) and email it to PRcontracting@khs-net.com with:
- A current W-9.
- Your Medi-Cal approval letter.
- Anything that helps explain your services, such as a brochure.
A Provider Contract Specialist should contact you within 5 to 10 business days. KHS notes the inquiry isn’t the credentialing application and doesn’t guarantee a contract. DHCS lists the same address, with Alejandra Martinez (661-617-2579), as KHS’s doula contracting contact.
Complete the doula credentialing application
KHS’s doula application (listed under Allied Health Providers as “Doula Provider”) has six sections: personal information, education, current employment or volunteer work, your training or experience pathway, a continuing education attestation (three hours every three years), and your signature. Attach copies of:
- Your doula certificate.
- Adult/infant CPR certification.
- Your HIPAA training certificate.
- Your DHCS Medi-Cal fee-for-service approval letter.
- Addendum A, Practitioner Rights.
- General or professional liability coverage, if you have it. KHS’s checklist doesn’t make it mandatory.
Experience-pathway applicants add a resume and the client or professional letters.
Allow 60 to 120 days for credentialing
KHS’s inquiry form warns that credentialing may take an additional 60 to 120 days. Send the full application at once to avoid adding to that, and don’t bill KHS until your contract is in effect.
Set up electronic claims and EFT
Have a clearinghouse and a bank account for EFT ready: KHS requires both. Claims follow Medi-Cal’s doula codes, diagnosis pairings and modifier XP (our billing cheat sheet has them). For billing, claims and payment questions DHCS lists kristie.onaindia@khs-net.com (661-340-1773).
KHS marks some networks “temporarily closed” on its application page (Community Health Workers and Community Supports, for example). The doula network was open when we checked; look again before you apply.
How many Kern Family Health Care members use doulas
Very few, at least early on. DHCS’s July 2025 report on the doula benefit put Kern Family Health Care among the plans with fewer than 11 members using doula services between January 2023 and June 2024 (DHCS suppresses smaller counts for privacy).
Kern Family Health Care contacts for doulas
- Contracting (inquiries and documents)
- PRcontracting@khs-net.com
- Doula contracting, Alejandra Martinez (per DHCS)
- 661-617-2579
- Doula billing and claims (per DHCS)
- kristie.onaindia@khs-net.com
- Doula billing and claims phone (per DHCS)
- 661-340-1773
- KHS main line
- 661-664-5000
Stuck with a plan? DHCS takes questions about plan contracting at DoulaBenefit@dhcs.ca.gov.
Sources
- Kern Health Systems, Become a KHS Provider
- Kern Health Systems, KHS Provider Contract Request (Contract Inquiry form) (2026)
- Kern Health Systems, Doula Birth Worker Attestation Check-List and Application (January 2025)
- DHCS, Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan Contact List for Doulas: Contracting and Onboarding
- DHCS, Billing, Claims, and Payment Contact Information for Doulas
- DHCS, Doula Benefit Implementation Report (July 2025)
All sources checked October 5, 2026.
Common questions
- How do I become a doula provider with Kern Family Health Care?
- Be enrolled and approved in Medi-Cal fee-for-service, then email the KHS Contract Inquiry form with a W-9 and your Medi-Cal approval letter to PRcontracting@khs-net.com. A contract specialist replies within 5 to 10 business days; then complete KHS’s doula credentialing application, which can take another 60 to 120 days.
- Do I have to be based in Kern County to contract with KHS?
- KHS requires network providers to be physically located in and providing services in Kern County for at least one year.
- Does KHS require liability insurance for doulas?
- KHS’s doula checklist asks for a copy of general or professional liability coverage “if covered,” so it isn’t listed as mandatory. Confirm with KHS when you apply.
This guide summarizes Kern Family Health Care (Kern Health Systems)’s published material for convenience and is not billing or legal advice. Plans change their processes and contacts; follow your contract and confirm with Kern Family Health Care before you apply or bill.