Misinformation and Minnesota Doula Registery...

It has come to my attention that there is misinformation on the Internet by various sources about the Minnesota Doula Registery. I came across a particular article that has false claims that a doula cannot bill a client without being registered with the state. This is wrong and false information. In fact, we have a student graduate of our program (Catholic Doula Program) who is billing clients and working with clients in her Catholic community that have no idea there's even a state registery! So, my aim in this blog post is to set the record straight about the Minnesota Registery of Doulas and Certifying organizations listed there.
The Minnesota Doula Registery first of all is voluntary. A doula can work in Minnesota without being registered. The state is only adding in a licensure kind of thing for doulas. You can certify or be "licensed" with the state by adding your name to the Registery of doulas. They do a background check to make sure you are not a criminal. If you want this kind of proof to clients, you could always have a background check without being state certified as well. This is just an added benefit of being certified with the state and having your name listed, so people know you passed a background check. 
The Minnesota Registery has some statutes that you can read - go here to look at them - I will not be quoting directly as it is too long. Note: State saying they certfying you is not the same as a certification from an organization. This means they are verfying you are certified with an organization. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/148.995 
There's also this one: www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/148.996
There's also this one: ​www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/148.997
OK, so it is basically the state saying, "We have looked at your certificate and you are good to go with working as a doula." This does not mean you have to have this or need this. This just means you are added to the Registery of doulas which is $200 out of your pocket every 3 years. 
Anyway, to ensure all our doulas from Catholic Doula Program have the opportunity to be listed in this registery, we went ahead and applied with the state of Minnesota to be one of the organizations listed there. So, our business should be up there within the next week or two as a valid certfying organization. 
We do want to emphasize that the registery is voluntary and has nothing to do with Medicaid program as far as we could tell. There is misinformation saying you have to be registered and do all of this and that and take Medicaid. The above Minnesota rules do not mention Medicaid. If you wish to take Medicaid and/or bill Medicaid for your doula services, you will need to talk to the Health Department and find out more information about this. Thank you so much. 
We will do more articles about various states and registeries - this is the first part in a series that we are now starting. Thanks for listening in! God Bless, Julie Larsen, Founder of Catholic Doula. 

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