Childbirth and Breastfeeding Support Demonstration

TRICARE now covers some services provided by certified labor doulas, lactation consultants, and lactation counselors. This coverage is part of a five-year program to support childbirth and breastfeeding.

To get these services, you must be a TRICARE Prime or Select beneficiary. You also need to receive care from lactation counselors, lactation consultants, or labor doulas who meet TRICARE's requirements. Note that this program does not offer services at military hospitals and clinics.

This demonstration is a temporary project that TRICARE uses to explore possible changes to its services.

Types of Care

Lactation Counselors: These professionals help breastfeeding parents with support and advice for normal breastfeeding of healthy, full-term infants.

Lactation Consultants: They have advanced training and can offer a full range of breastfeeding care, including help with any breastfeeding issues.

Certified Labor Doulas: These trained, non-medical professionals support birthing parents before, during, and after labor. They provide physical, emotional, and informational support throughout the labor process.

To find a network provider, you can search by name or specialty (doula, lactation consultant, or lactation counselor) and ZIP Code. You can also look for non-network providers in categories like "Hospitals, Clinics, and Urgent Care Centers."

Make sure to check if your labor doulaLabor doulas are trained, non-medical professionals who provide support for the birthing parent before, during, and a short time after labor., lactation consultant, or lactation counselor is eligible for coverage before you receive care. This can help you avoid unexpected costs.

Referrals

Eligible beneficiaries do not need a referral to access services under this program. However, TRICARE Prime enrollees without a referral may face additional charges for care from non-network providers. All plans require that care comes from TRICARE-authorized providers who meet the certification standards of this demonstration.

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