Having a baby in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania WIC gives pregnant and new parents, babies and children under 5 healthy food, nutrition help and breastfeeding support. You qualify on income at or below 185% of the poverty guidelines, and you may already qualify if you get Medicaid, SNAP or TANF.

Program

Pennsylvania WIC

Agency

Pennsylvania Department of Health

Phone

(800) 942-9467

Apply online

Start the online form

Notes

The online form is a pre-application sent to your local WIC office.

1. 1

   Start online or call

   Contact a WIC agency where you live to start, by phone or online. The agency schedules an in-person or virtual appointment to finish the application and nutrition check.
2. 2

   Go to your appointment

   In person or virtual. Staff finish your application and do a free health and nutrition check.

In Pennsylvania, Medicaid covers doula care: up to $2,200 per pregnancy for 12 prenatal or postpartum visits a year, plus support during labor and delivery.

Covered since

January 1, 2025

Most Medicaid pays per pregnancy

$2,200

Payment

$100 per prenatal or postpartum visit (T1032-U7/U8), with a combined limit of 12 visits per calendar year, plus a $1,000 flat rate for labor and delivery (T1033), one per pregnancy. Up to $2,200 for the standard package. Separately, up to 2 'other services' visits per year at $175 each cover fertility/pre-conception counseling, pregnancy loss, infant loss or termination. These are fee-for-service rates effective 1/1/2025.

Prenatal and postpartum visits, combined

12

Labor and delivery support

Yes

Doula certification required

Certified Perinatal Doula credential from the Pennsylvania Certification Board (24 hours of training or experience pathway, CPR, 3 client evaluations)

Notes

Up to two extra $175 visits a year for fertility counseling, pregnancy loss, infant loss or termination are paid on top of the $2,200 standard package. The 12-visit limit is per calendar year, so a pregnancy that spans two calendar years could get more visits. Visits must be at least 30 minutes. The first prenatal visit, the first postpartum visit and labor support must be in person, and no labor payment is made if delivery did not occur. Services run through the 12-month postpartum period. Fee-for-service care needs a Doula Services Recommendation Form signed by a physician, PA, CRNP, CNM or licensed mental health professional. Most members are in managed care: DHS's doula enrollment FAQ says MCOs negotiate their own doula rates, and the bulletin says MCOs must cover at least the same services as fee-for-service. Doulas had to enroll in Medical Assistance (MCO-only) starting 2/1/2024, and FFS payment began 1/1/2025. Pennsylvania DHS has no member page about doulas.

The dollar figure is what Medicaid pays the doula, not what you pay. Medicaid can't charge cost sharing for pregnancy-related services, so covered doula care costs you nothing. You usually need a recommendation from a doctor, midwife or other licensed provider, and a doula in your health plan's network. Checked October 2026; rates often change January 1 and July 1, so confirm with Medical Assistance (Pennsylvania Medicaid).

In Pennsylvania, Medical Assistance covers electric breast pumps with a prescription and no prior authorization.

Pump types

manual; personal electric; hospital-grade rental

Prior authorization

Not required

Prescription

Required

When you can get one

One pump per calendar year (E0603)

Notes

Pennsylvania Medical Assistance covers the electric breast pump (E0603) and dropped its prior authorization for dates of service on or after December 1, 2022 (MA Bulletin 05-22-14, which also added breast milk storage bags, up to 120 a month). Medical supplies must be prescribed by a licensed practitioner, and HealthChoices plans must cover at least what fee-for-service covers. AmeriHealth Caritas Pennsylvania and Keystone First's 2026 pump policy covers manual, electric and hospital-grade pumps under medical-necessity criteria, and a 2021 AmeriHealth Caritas notice limits electric pumps to one per calendar year under DHS limits. The fee schedule can only be opened after accepting a license, so state rules for manual and hospital-grade pumps weren't confirmed.

Pennsylvania Medicaid member information