Comparing Three Medi-Cal Benefits: Community Health Workers, Doulas, and Peer Support Specialists

Authors: Sunshine Moore

This document compares three Medi-Cal services that started in 2022 and 2023: community health workers (CHWs), doulas, and peer support specialists (PSS). It shows how their roles, services, and payment systems differ. CHWs include promotores and community health representatives who support Spanish-speaking and Native communities. The document focuses on core services covered by Medi-Cal, but these workers also help others outside Medi-Cal, including people with private insurance or no insurance. It doesn’t include some expanded services like dental care or certain behavioral health programs.