Childbirth and Breastfeeding Support Demonstration: Eligibility, Benefits and Accessing Care

TRICARE's Childbirth and Breastfeeding Support Demonstration (CBSD) is only available to beneficiaries enrolled in TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select. 

If a patient contacts you for CBSD services, be sure to verify patient eligibility. 

Lactation Counselors/Consultants and Breastfeeding Support

Eligible beneficiaries who are least 27 weeks pregnant can receive breastfeeding (lactation) counseling from a certified lactation consultant or counselor.

• May be received as part of an inpatient maternity stay or outpatient obstetrical or well-child visit performed by/at a TRICARE-authorized provider/facility.
• Up to six sessions covered in total per beneficiary, whether rendered under the CBSD or TRICARE’s breastfeeding counseling benefit by a TRICARE-authorized provider. Additional sessions are not allowed for multiples (twins, triplets, etc.).
• Only the breastfeeding parent is eligible for the counseling.
• Breastfeeding counseling may be performed in individual or group sessions.

Certified labor doula (CLD) services

Eligible beneficiaries who are at least 20 weeks pregnant can receive labor doula services.

• The beneficiary must be under the care of a TRICARE-authorized provider (for example, obstetrician, certified nurse midwife, etc.) for the maternity episode of care for CLD services to be covered under the CBSD.
• TRICARE will cover antepartum and postpartum support visits provided by a CLD before or after giving birth, as well as one continuous labor support encounter during the birth event.
• TRICARE’s coverage is based on two phases. Phase 1 is available for dates of service Jan. 1, 2022-Dec. 31, 2024. Phase 2 is available for dates of service on or after June 10, 2024.
  • Phase 1: Six untimed visits by a CLD before or after giving birth and one continuous labor support encounter during the birth event
  • Phase 2: Up to 24, 15-minute increment visits by a CLD before or after giving birth and one continuous labor support encounter during the birth event
• CLD services for beneficiaries who give birth in a military hospital or clinic are excluded from the CBSD.

Telehealth options

• Covered lactation services may be rendered via telehealth (two-way visual video component)
• Covered labor doula services may NOT be rendered via telehealth

TRICARE Prime-enrolled beneficiaries need referrals to see non-network providers, even if there aren't any network providers available. Patients enrolled in TRICARE Select do not require referrals.

For information and resources on how to submit referrals, please visit our How to Submit an Authorization or Referral Request page. You also can refer to our CBSD Frequently Asked Questions and Resources page. 

When submitting your referral request, please note the following request type profiles: 

• P180 – Doula services
• P159 – Lactation support

• The CBSD is not offered at military hospital or clinics.
• Telehealth visits are not covered for doula services.
• Doula services not personally performed will not be reimbursed.
• Services are limited to one service per date of service.