Does DC Medicaid Cover Home Birth?2026 Coverage with 100% Physician Rate Parity for CNMs
Yes for CNMs. DC Medicaid covers Certified Nurse-Midwife services at 100 percent of the physician rate as of 2025. [1] CNMs in DC have full independent practice authority. [1] DC also covers Certified Midwives (CMs) for Medicaid services. [2] CPM-attended home birth is paid out of pocket only.
The District of Columbia is in the top tier of U.S. jurisdictions for Medicaid midwifery payment parity. DC reimburses CNMs at 100 percent of the physician rate for vaginal delivery, [1] one of 29 states plus DC achieving full payment parity. CNMs in DC have full independent practice authority [1] and can attend home births. DC also covers Certified Midwives. [2] If you're on DC Medicaid and considering home birth, the legal coverage is among the strongest in the country.
On this page
Sources cited (3)
- NASHP, State CNM Medicaid Coverage
- ACNM CNM-CM-CPM Comparison (2024)
- Social Security Act § 1905(a)(17)
Does DC Medicaid cover home birth?
Yes when attended by a CNM. The District of Columbia Medicaid program covers Certified Nurse-Midwife services as a federal mandatory benefit, [3] and DC reimburses CNMs at 100 percent of the physician rate for vaginal delivery as of 2025. [1] This puts DC in the top tier of U.S. jurisdictions for CNM payment parity, alongside Connecticut (since 2021), Massachusetts (per 2024 law), and 27 other states.
DC CNMs have full independent practice authority , they can practice without physician supervision or collaborative agreements. [1] This removes structural barriers that limit home birth in collaborative-practice states.
DC also recognizes Certified Midwives (CMs) for Medicaid coverage. [2] CMs are non-nurses with graduate-level training similar to CNMs, credentialed by the AMCB. DC is one of a small number of jurisdictions that extends Medicaid coverage to CMs.
Certified Professional Midwives are not Medicaid-eligible in DC. CPM-attended home birth must be paid out of pocket.
Which midwife credentials does DC Medicaid cover?
The District of Columbia recognizes two midwifery credentials for Medicaid purposes.
Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) are licensed by the DC Board of Nursing as Advanced Practice Registered Nurses. CNM services are a federal Medicaid mandatory benefit. [3] DC reimburses CNMs at 100 percent of the physician rate. [1] CNMs have full independent practice authority. [1]
Certified Midwives (CMs) are non-nurses with graduate-level training, credentialed by the American Midwifery Certification Board. DC provides Medicaid coverage for CMs. [2]
Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) are not Medicaid-eligible in DC. CPM-attended home birth must be paid out of pocket.
| CREDENTIAL | DC MEDICAID COVERAGE | PRACTICE AUTHORITY |
|---|---|---|
| Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) | Yes (federal mandate + 100% parity) [1,3] | Full independent practice [1] |
| Certified Midwife (CM) | Yes [2] | Graduate-level non-nurse training |
| Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) | Not Medicaid-eligible | Out-of-pocket only |
How do you find a DC Medicaid-accepting midwife?
DC's home birth midwifery community is small but tight-knit. Several DC-based practices serve the District plus nearby Maryland and Virginia. The DC Department of Health Care Finance manages the Medicaid program directly with managed care contracts.
Identify your DC Medicaid plan
DC Medicaid is delivered through Managed Care Organizations (AmeriHealth Caritas DC, MedStar Family Choice DC, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Community Health Plan DC). Your enrollment lists yours.
Search for CNMs and CMs offering planned home birth
Cross-reference your plan's provider directory with the ACNM DC Affiliate. Both CNMs and CMs are eligible Medicaid billing providers.
Confirm credential and Medicaid panel by phone
Ask each practice: "Do you hold CNM or CM credential, and which DC Medicaid plans do you bill for home birth?"
Cross-reference with regional resources
Some DC-based midwives serve clients in nearby Maryland and Virginia. Local availability extends across the metro region.
Bottom line: DC Medicaid covers CNM-attended home birth at 100 percent of the physician rate as of 2025. [1] CNMs have full independent practice authority. [1] CMs are also Medicaid-eligible providers in DC. [2] CPMs are not Medicaid-eligible. DC's midwifery framework is in the top tier of U.S. jurisdictions for legal coverage and payment parity. Use your DC Medicaid MCO directory plus the ACNM DC Affiliate to find a Medicaid-accepting CNM or CM offering planned home birth.
- National Academy for State Health Policy. State Medicaid Coverage of Certified Nurse Midwives. View source
- American College of Nurse-Midwives. CNM-CM-CPM Comparison Chart. October 2024. View source
- Social Security Act § 1905(a)(17), 42 U.S.C. § 1396d(a)(17). Mandatory Medicaid coverage of nurse-midwife services. View source
▶ How we research and review this content Editorial standards
Every guide on Home Birth Partners is researched against primary sources (federal regulations, peer-reviewed clinical literature, and state-level licensing boards) and reviewed by a credentialed midwife before publication.
We update articles when source data changes, when state laws are revised, or at minimum every 12 months. The "Last reviewed" date in the byline reflects the most recent review.
If you spot an error or have a primary source we should add, email [email protected].