TRICARE now covers certain services by certified labor doulas, lactation consultants and lactation counselors as part of its five-year childbirth and breastfeeding support demonstration.
To receive care under this demonstration, you must be eligible as either a TRICARE Prime or Select beneficiary and must receive care from lactation counselors, lactation consultants or labor doulas who meet TRICARE requirements to be covered.
This demonstration will not be offered at a military hospitals and clinics.
Important note: A demonstration is a limited duration project that TRICARE uses to evaluate potential changes to the program. Although the services under the CBSD are covered for TRICARE beneficiaries as of January 1, 2022, this is a new demonstration and establishing a provider network will take until April 2022. If you want to receive these services before the provider network is established, you and your provider must meet the requirements of the demonstration. Otherwise, you will be responsible for the full, out-of-pocket cost for the services. Learn more
Lactation counselors are trained to provide breastfeeding counseling to support normal lactation of breastfeeding parents of healthy, full-term infants.
Lactation consultants have the highest level of breastfeeding training and can provide a full range of breastfeeding care. A lactation consultant can provide all the services a lactation counselor can provide, plus the additional services that may be necessary for any problems surrounding breastfeeding.
Certified labor doulas are trained, non-medical professionals who supports birthing parents before, during and after labor. A doula provides physical, emotional and informational support for the birthing parent during the labor process, and supports the birthing parent during birth.
Find a network provider by searching by name or specialty (doula, lactation consultant or lactation counselor) and ZIP Code.
Find a non-network provider under the category "Hospitals, Clinics, Urgent Care Centers and Other Healthcare Services.
You should verify the eligibility of your labor doula, lactation consultant or lactation counselor *before* receiving care to avoid any unexpected or extra costs associated with that care.
Eligible beneficiaries do not need a referral for services under the demonstration.
