Introducing Loula Referrals
Loula Referrals connects you with clients who fit your values and specialties, with their insurance already verified. You're never locked in to a referral and every match starts with a free consult to make sure it's a good fit for everyone.
This guide covers how referrals work, what they cost, and how to get more of them.
How referrals work
Every referral follows the same six steps.
The client gets ready. They complete an intake form and an insurance eligibility check. Until both are done, they can't request any doula.
A request is created. This happens one of two ways:
Directory: the client found you and selected you.
Care Navigator: our team picked you for the client and requested on their behalf.
You review it. New requests land on your Connections page in the portal, with a timestamp showing when they came in. You'll see the client's due date, location, and any special circumstances. Their name and contact info stay hidden until you accept.
You respond within 48 hours. Accept if you're available for a free consult. Decline if you're not. After 48 hours the request expires, and you'll need to contact support to take it.
You connect. Once you accept, you'll see the client's full intake and contact info. We'll email you both an introduction. Then reach out to schedule a 15-minute consult.
You decide together. If you both want to work together, it's a match. Once the match is confirmed, the client is added to your portal with insurance already verified.
Connection vs. match
A connection asks: are you available? A match asks: are you the right fit?
Connection: you and a client are linked through a request, because the client picked you in the directory or a Care Navigator picked you. There's no commitment. You're simply open to a consult.
Match: you and the client agreed to work together, usually after a consult.
Every referral starts as a connection. Some become matches.
Key terms
Referral: a client Loula found for you, as opposed to a client you found yourself.
Eligibility: the status of the client's insurance verification.
Intake: the full form a client fills out before they can request a doula.
Request: an ask to connect a client with you, from the directory or a Care Navigator.
Accepted request: you're available for a free consult. It doesn't commit you to working together.
Expired request: a request with no response after 48 hours. Contact support to take it.
Connection: any client and doula linked through a request.
Match: a connection where you both agreed to work together.
Past: where declined requests and declined connections go.
Payouts
How you're paid depends on how the client came to you.
Referral clients completed a Loula intake form. You get the set payouts below.
Clients you bring yourself have no intake form, and you create them in your portal. Your original fee structure stays the same.
Referral client payouts
For referrals you accept on or after the date you agree to the Loula Referral Program Addendum, here are the payout rates:
Extended initial visit, 90 minutes, prenatal or postpartum (Z1032): $146.50
Prenatal visit (Z1034): $119.96
Postpartum visit (Z1038): $119.96
Extended postpartum support (T1032): $29.99 per 15-minute unit, up to 12 units per visit ($359.91 for a full visit) and up to 2 visits per pregnancy
Support during vaginal delivery (59409): $506.95
Support during VBAC (59612): $568.83
Support during cesarean (59620): $588.84
Support during or after miscarriage (T1033): $185.63
Support during or after abortion (59840): $185.63
When a client counts as a referral
It starts at intake. A client becomes a referrals client the moment they submit the intake form at match.joinloula.com.
It follows the client. Any doula who adds that client later will get referral payouts for them.
Groups use the first rate. In a group, a client stays at the rate set by the first member who added them.
Old forms keep old rates. Clients who only filled out our older Typeform stay on your original fee structure. Nothing migrates.
Think a client is at the wrong rate? Email [email protected].
How to get more referrals
We can't guarantee referrals, but two things make them much more likely: a complete profile and current availability.
Complete and publish your Loula Profile. You need a published profile to receive referrals. The more detail you share about your values and specialties, the better we can match you. If you hide your profile, you'll stop getting new requests, but your existing connections and requests stay as they are.
Keep your availability up to date. Tell us whether you're open, and for what: prenatal, birth, or postpartum-only support. Clients can't see your availability. Our Care Navigator uses it to decide who to connect.
Referrals in groups
Group admins see every connection request in the group and can accept or decline on behalf of any member.
Full access members see and respond to only their own requests.
Examples: a week with Doula Maya
Follow Maya, a doula in Loula Referrals, through one week. Each day shows one part of the program.
Monday: a referral lands
Maya opens her Connections page and sees a new referral from our Care Navigator. Jordan is planning a VBAC, and Maya's profile lists VBAC support. Maya pauses. She doesn't know Jordan yet, but she knows she's free for a consult this week. That's all accepting means, so she taps Accept.
By lunch, she has Jordan's intake and an intro email in both their inboxes. Their consult goes well, and they agree to work together. It's a match.
Accepting says "I'm available." Matching says "we're a fit."
Tuesday: a consult that isn't a fit
Sam found Maya in the directory and requested her. Maya is free, so she accepts on the Connections page. On their consult, Sam explains she needs overnight postpartum support. Maya doesn't offer overnights, and she says so kindly. They agree it isn't a fit, and the connection moves to Past. Nobody owes anything.
You can always say no after a consult. Accepting a request is never a commitment.
Thursday: a request expires
A request from Riley arrives while Maya is at a long birth. By the time she checks her Connections page on Saturday, more than 48 hours have passed and the request has expired. Maya still has room, so she emails [email protected] to ask about taking Riley.
Respond within 48 hours. After that, you'll need support's help to take the client.
Friday: a familiar face at a new rate
Maya meets Dana at a community baby fair, and they decide to work together. When Maya adds Dana in her portal, Dana is set up for referral payouts. It turns out Dana had already submitted the intake at match.joinloula.com. Maya believes she found Dana on her own, so she emails [email protected] to review it.
Payouts follow the client's intake. If it looks wrong, support will review it.
Check yourself
A Care Navigator sends you a request, but you aren't sure the client is a fit. Should you accept?
A client has been in your portal since spring. Will she switch to referral payouts?
You spot a request that came in three days ago. What do you do?
Answers
Yes, if you're available for a consult. The consult is where you both decide on fit.
No. Only clients who complete the new intake at match.joinloula.com get referral payouts.
It has expired. Email [email protected] if you'd still like to take the client.
FAQ
The program
If I accept a request, do I have to work with the client? No. Accepting means you're open to a free consult. You only work together if you both agree.
Why haven't I received any referrals? We can't guarantee referrals. A complete, published profile and current availability give you the best chance.
What happens if I miss the 48-hour window? The request expires. Email [email protected] if you'd still like to take the client.
Can clients see my availability? No. Only our Care Navigator sees it.
If I hide my profile, what happens to my current clients? Nothing changes for existing connections or requests. You just won't get new ones.
Existing clients and rates
My client filled out the old Typeform. What do I do? Create the client in your portal as usual. They haven't done the new intake, so they stay on your original fee structure.
My client is already in my portal. Will they move to the new rate? No. Only clients who complete the new intake at match.joinloula.com get referral payouts. Existing clients don't migrate.
I already billed a visit for this client. Does anything change? No. Their payouts depend on whether they completed the new intake, not on billing.
I had a consult with a client but haven't billed yet. Which rate applies? The same rule applies. If they completed the new intake, referral payouts apply. If not, your original fee structure applies.
I found a client myself, but they show referral payouts. What now? Email [email protected] and we'll review it.
I'm bringing my own client. How do I add them? Create the client in your portal yourself. Clients you bring keep your original fee structure.
Policies and support
Guide for Clients
Questions? Email [email protected].