TRICARE Childbirth and Breastfeeding Support Provider Qualifications
Certified providers must meet specific requirements to provide Childbirth and Breastfeeding Support Demonstration (CBSD) services to eligible beneficiaries.
Certified Labor Doula (CLD)
To offer services to eligible TRICARE beneficiaries, CLDs must have a signed participation agreement before delivering services.
CLDs must also meet the following requirements:
Education
CLDs must have completed a minimum of 24 education hours on the topics below:
- Labor physiology
- Labor doula training
- Antepartum doula training
- Postpartum doula training
Experience
Within the last three years provided continuous in-person childbirth support for at least three childbirths as the primary labor doula supporting the birthing parent, with a minimum of 15 hours over the three childbirths.
- At least two of the three births must be a vaginal birth
- Antepartum and postpartum support must be provided for at least one birth
Certification
Provider must have a current certification as a CLD, certified doula, or similar perinatal certification (postpartum doula certification by itself does not qualify), obtained within the last three years from one of the following organizations:
- BirthWorks International
- Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association
- Doulas of North America International
- International Childbirth Education Association
- To Labor
- The National Black Doulas Association
- Medicaid Participation in Lieu of Certification
- Effective April 11, 2024, participation in a Medicaid doula program may be substituted for the certification requirement for CLDs practicing in states with an active statewide doula Medicaid benefit. Participation must be in a permanent statewide Medicaid doula program, excluding geographically or time limited programs and programs with requirements set by affordable care or managed care organizations. CLD may only practice in the state in which they are a Medicaid doula. (TRICARE Operations Manuals - Chap 18 Sect 10)
Additional requirements:
- Provider shall maintain a current adult, child, and infant Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification.
- Provider must be licensed, if your state offers a license
- Doula must submit claims under their own National Provider Identification (NPI) Number.
Lactation Consultant
Lactation Consultants must meet certain requirements to offer services to eligible TRICARE beneficiaries:
Certification
- Lactation consultant must have certification as an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) from the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners.
- Lactation consultant must have certification as an Advanced Lactation Consultant or an Advanced Nurse Lactation Consultant qualifies from the Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice, Inc. (ALPP).
Additional Requirements
- Provider shall maintain a current adult, child, and infant Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification.
- Provider must be licensed, if your state offers a license.
- Lactation consultant must submit claims under their own National Provider Identification (NPI) Number.
Lactation Counselor
To offer services to eligible TRICARE beneficiaries, Lactation Counselors must meet the following criteria:
Certification
- Lactation counselor must have certification as an International Board-Certified Lactation Counselor (IBCLC) from the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners.
Additional Requirements
- Provider shall maintain a current adult, child, and infant Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification.
- Provider must be licensed, if your state offers a license.
- Lactation consultant must submit claims under their own National Provider Identification (NPI) Number.