MassHealth covers up to 8 total hours of perinatal visits (prenatal and postpartum combined) without prior authorization, in addition to labor and birth support, which is billed separately and is not part of the 8 hours. The 8 hours can be used at any point during pregnancy through 12 months postpartum, in whatever combination best meets the client’s needs.
A practical breakdown that many Massachusetts doulas use is:
Visit Time Focus
Prenatal Visit 1 90 min Intake, health history, goals, education
Prenatal Visit 2 90 min Birth planning, comfort measures, partner support
Prenatal Visit 3 90 min Labor preparation, breastfeeding planning, postpartum planning
Prenatal Check-in 60 min Final questions, birth preferences, signs of labor
Postpartum Check-in 60 min Birth processing, feeding, recovery, resources
Postpartum Visit 90 min Breastfeeding support, newborn care, emotional wellness
Additional Follow-up 30 min Phone/video/in-person follow-up
Total: 8 hours (480 minutes)
This is also commonly viewed as:
• 5.5 hours prenatal
• 2.5 hours postpartum
• Labor and birth support (separate from the 8 hours)
If a client needs more than 8 hours of prenatal/postpartum visits due to medical or social needs, you can request prior authorization from MassHealth for additional covered hours.