FAQ

About Millie

What is Millie Clinic?

Millie Clinic is a women's health clinic serving the Bay Area, with locations in Berkeley and San Jose. We offer complete, collaborative, culturally sensitive care, including maternity, gynecology, and wraparound support services, from preconception through early parenthood and beyond.

What services do you offer

Millie Clinic offers midwifery-led, OB-supported maternity care, gynecology, perimenopause & menopause care, and classes & other support, for patients in Berkeley, San Jose, and the greater Bay Area.

Where are you located?

Millie has two Bay Area clinic locations: Berkeley, CA and San Jose, CA.

Berkeley Clinic

2999 Regent Street, Suite 524, Berkeley, CA 94705

San Jose Clinic

1471 Saratoga Ave, Suite 101, San Jose, CA 95129

Both locations offer in-person and virtual maternity and gynecology care to patients throughout the East Bay and San Jose.

Is the clinic reachable outside office hours?

Berkeley Clinic
After-hours: (510) 495-0310
Appointment booking: berkeleyfrontdesk@millieclinic.com

San Jose Clinic
After-hours: (408) 762-5855
Appointment booking: sanjosefrontdesk@millieclinic.com

Billing & Insurance

Do you take insurance? Which plans?

Millie Clinic accepts PPO health insurance plans including Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, GEHA (Berkeley), and HealthNet, plus several local networks. In Berkeley, Millie accepts HMO plans through Brown & Toland (now Altais) and Hill Physicians. In San Jose, Millie accepts HMO plans through SCCIPA. Millie also accepts select Medi-Cal plans through Alameda Alliance for Health (AAH) and NEMS.

For help confirming coverage or finding in-network options, contact berkeleysupport@millieclinic.com (Berkeley) or sanjosesupport@millieclinic.com (San Jose).

What will I pay for my maternity care at Millie?

Here's what to expect for maternity care costs at Millie: all clinical appointments, lab tests, ultrasounds, and the labor and delivery experience at Alta Bates Hospital (Berkeley) or Good Samaritan Hospital (San Jose) are billed to insurance. In-network lactation services are also offered and accepted by most major insurance plans, including Medicaid. There is no extra charge for the Millie app, remote monitoring devices (e.g., blood pressure cuff), or group sessions and messaging with a Millie Guide (a practice-embedded doula). Consultations for supportive care such as educational classes, workshops, postpartum groups, therapy, and nutrition are not currently covered by insurance and are paid out of pocket (may be HSA/FSA eligible).

Are wraparound support services covered by insurance?

What's covered:
In-clinic lactation appointments are billed to insurance.

What's not covered:
Other wraparound support services (classes, workshops, postpartum groups, therapy, nutrition) are not covered by insurance at this time. HSA/FSA can often be used, and a superbill can be provided for out-of-network reimbursement if available.

Does Millie accept cash pay?

Millie is an insurance-based practice and does not accept cash pay at this time. We accept a range of PPO and HMO health insurance plans, along with select Medi-Cal plans (see full list above).

Can I use my HSA or FSA for wraparound support services?

Depending on your plan benefits, you can often use your HSA/FSA card to pay online or submit a superbill for reimbursement.

Do you offer payment plans or financial assistance?

Yes. Millie Clinic is committed to making better care accessible for all. Berkeley patients can email berkeleysupport@millieclinic.com and San Jose patients can email sanjosesupport@millieclinic.com.

Maternity

Is Millie a good fit for a low-risk or high-risk pregnancy?

An estimated 80% of pregnancies are low-risk and another 10-15% are moderate-risk. Millie's midwifery-led, OB-supported model is designed for this population. Millie does not accept high-risk pregnancies at this time but is happy to provide a referral. Clinical eligibility details are available for the Berkeley clinic and the San Jose clinic.

What does prenatal care look like at Millie?

Prenatal care can begin as soon as pregnancy is confirmed, with a virtual consultation. Around 8-10 weeks, patients come in for their first ultrasound, followed by frequent in-person and virtual appointments throughout pregnancy in Berkeley or San Jose. Transfer of care from another provider are accepted up until 32 weeks in most cases.

What is a midwife vs. an OB, and why do both matter?

Millie Clinic employs Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs) — licensed as both Registered Nurses and Midwives — known for a minimal-intervention approach that promotes physiological birth and meets about 80% of clinical needs during pregnancy and childbirth. OB-GYNs are medical doctors and surgeons trained to perform procedures like cesarean delivery and gynecologic surgery, and are the ideal clinician for higher level of care; some further specialize as Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) specialists. Both share the same goal of healthy pregnancies, safe births, and healthy babies, and how much of each type of care is needed depends on the pregnancy. This shared-care approach is what we mean by midwifery-led, OB-supported care.

What is midwifery-led, OB-supported care?

Millie believes everyone needs a midwife, some people need an OB-GYN too, and everyone should have access to both. Patients establish care with a CNM of their choosing, who serves as primary clinician. Higher-risk pregnancies are co-managed with the UCSF OB-GYNs (Berkeley) or hospitalist OB-GYNs at Good Samaritan Hospital (San Jose). Some pregnancies may become too high-risk for care at Millie, and in these instances we will work with you to transfer care to an OB-GYN in your community with a seamless transition of care.

Who will I see during my prenatal visits?

Patients start their Millie journey with one of the Certified Nurse Midwives.

Do I get a doula?

Every patient is paired with a Millie Guide, a practicing doula who meets with patients each trimester on topics like birth preferences and postpartum planning, and is available via the Millie app between visits. Millie Guides are not present at birth, but can help patients find a birthing doula; Millie is building a practice-affiliated birth doula network.

Where will I get my lab tests?

Millie partners with LabCorp and Quest Diagnostics for lab tests, sending patients to an in-network lab. Genetic screening tests are ordered through Natera, LabCorp, or Quest Diagnostics.

Where will I deliver?

All births take place at Alta Bates Hospital (Berkeley) or Good Samaritan Hospital (San Jose), the two hospitals Millie partners with in the Bay Area.

Who will be at my birth and deliver my baby?

Millie midwives and the UCSF OB-GYNs (Berkeley) or hospitalist OB-GYNs at Good Samaritan (South Bay) work together, sharing clinical protocols and a common patient record for a seamless transition from pregnancy to delivery and postpartum care. If a c-section or other intervention is needed, our partner OB-GYNs perform it in collaboration with the Millie midwives.

Gynecology

How often should I get a gynecological exam or annual wellness exam?

An annual wellness exam is recommended. Patients who recently gave birth at Millie are encouraged to return for their annual after the baby's first birthday.

Do I have to be a Millie maternity patient to receive gynecology care?

No. Many patients begin care at Millie with preconception counseling, an annual exam, or birth control services.

What gynecology services does Millie provide?

Millie offers gynecology care in Berkeley and San Jose, including: annual wellness exam, preconception counseling, fertility assessment, IUD/birth control visit, infection screening, first trimester options, and miscarriage care.

Perimenopause & Menopause

When should I seek perimenopause and menopause treatment?

It's a good time to seek care if symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disruption, or mood changes are interfering with daily life, if perimenopause may be affecting fertility, or if new bleeding occurs after menopause.

Do I need to be a Millie maternity patient to receive perimenopause and menopause care?

No. These services are open to anyone, whether or not they are planning a pregnancy.

What perimenopause and menopause treatments does Millie offer?

A full range of evidence-based treatments including hormone therapy, non-hormonal medications, vaginal treatments, and lifestyle strategies, tailored to each patient's body and long-term health goals.

Does Millie prescribe hormone replacement therapy (HRT)?

Yes, when appropriate and safe, after providers review medical history, symptoms, and goals.

Are perimenopause and menopause visits in person or virtual?

Many perimenopause and menopause visits can be done virtually. An in-person visit at the Berkeley or San Jose clinic is scheduled if lab work, imaging, or a physical exam is needed.

What are the signs of perimenopause?

Common signs of perimenopause include hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disruption, and mood changes. It's a good time to seek care if these symptoms are interfering with daily life, if perimenopause may be affecting fertility, or if new bleeding occurs after menopause.

Classes & Other Support

Do I have to be a Millie patient to take a class or use your support services?

No. Class and support services are open to anyone. Mental health support is only available in California.

How can I learn more about what’s included in a particular session?

A full description of each care session is shown when booking. Additional questions can be sent to classes@millieclinic.com.

What do I need to do before a 1:1 session?

An intake form is sent in advance so patients and providers can make the most of their time together, including space to list questions or concerns ahead of the visit.