RE: licensing recommendations

[Guest guest]

This is disturbing as it says FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS. Was there anyone remotely familiar with the SG Call to Action or IBCLCs on the committee?

Lou Moramarco IBCLC

Birth, Breastfeeding & Before

International Board Certified Lactation Consultant

Bradley Childbirth Educator

Certified Birth Doula

marylou22@...

www.lunadoula.com

Hidden Booby Trap: Is Your Lactation “Specialist” an Imposter? http://www.bestforbabes.org/2010/03/hidden-booby-trap-is-your-lactation-specialist-an-imposter/

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From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of HealthyteethclubSent: Saturday, December 03, 2011 12:01 AMTo: Subject: Re: licensing recommendations

e. Coverage of breastfeeding support and counseling will be required by insurance exchanges by January 1, 2013. Sent from my iPhone

I find this disturbing:

http://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/redesign/docs/health_disparities_report.pdf

on page 40

>The Workgroup recommends Medicaid reimbursement for breastfeeding support services conducted by a specially trained lactation counselor. Analogous to coverage currently authorized for diabetes education and asthma counseling, this service conducted by a specially trained lactation counselor would be billed to Medicaid under the license of a professional (MD, DO, NP, PA, NMW, RD, RN, other) in New York State. Coverage of breastfeeding support and counseling will be required by insurance exchanges by January 1, 2013.<

What does this really mean? How would it affect those of us in PP who work independently?

And on page 41:

>Concerns with Recommendation:

Overall the recommendations suggest significant system changes to enhance initial and ongoing Medicaid coverage to promote maternal and child health. Specific concerns include a limited number of CLC health care professionals to support breastfeeding recommendations. Time will be needed to institute statewide training and certification.<

Why is there absolutely NO mention of IBCLCs????

What the heck is a specially trained lactation counselor?

normaNorma Ritter, IBCLC, RLCBreastfeeding Matters in the Capital Regionwww.NormaRitter.comJoin us on Facebook for the latest birthing and breastfeeding news and views:http://tinyurl.com/BMCRonFB

[Guest guest]

Oh my! Who wrote this and it does seem that even though the IBCLC credential has been used for over 25 years, the government and the healthcare industry have not looked at it as the specially trained professional. It sounds as though they are using the CLC (Certified Lactation Counselor) as the authority and really the 'specially trained lactation 'counselor' still need to bill under one of the others listed (MD, DO, NP, etc).I know it's 'only' New York. But I can see others following in there footsteps.Cheryl To: ibclc-pp < > Sent: Friday, December 2, 2011 3:30 PM Subject: licensing recommendations

I find this disturbing:

http://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/redesign/docs/health_disparities_report.pdf

on page 40

>The

Workgroup recommends Medicaid reimbursement for breastfeeding support

services conducted by a specially trained lactation counselor. Analogous to coverage currently authorized for diabetes education and

asthma counseling, this service conducted by a specially trained

lactation counselor would be billed to Medicaid under the license of

a professional (MD, DO, NP, PA, NMW, RD, RN, other) in New York

State. Coverage of breastfeeding support and counseling will be

required by insurance exchanges by January 1, 2013.<

What does this really mean? How would it affect those of us in PP who work independently?And on page 41:

>Concerns

with Recommendation:Overall

the recommendations suggest significant system changes to enhance

initial and ongoing Medicaid coverage to promote maternal and child

health. Specific concerns include a limited number of CLC health

care professionals to support breastfeeding recommendations. Time

will be needed to institute statewide training and certification.<

Why is there absolutely NO mention of IBCLCs????What the heck is a specially trained

lactation counselor?

norma

Norma Ritter, IBCLC, RLCBreastfeeding Matters in the Capital Regionwww.NormaRitter.comJoin us on Facebook for the latest birthing and breastfeeding news and views:

http://tinyurl.com/BMCRonFB

[Guest guest]

Yes, I agree , this is NOT good. As of right now IBCLC can not recieve direct reimbursement from MInnesota Medical assistance, You must be billing for services under a dr, clinic NP etc... I don't understand ... Why?Sent from my iPhone

Oh my! Who wrote this and it does seem that even though the IBCLC credential has been used for over 25 years, the government and the healthcare industry have not looked at it as the specially trained professional. It sounds as though they are using the CLC (Certified Lactation Counselor) as the authority and really the 'specially trained lactation 'counselor' still need to bill under one of the others listed (MD, DO, NP, etc).I know it's 'only' New York. But I can see others following in there footsteps.Cheryl To: ibclc-pp < > Sent: Friday, December 2, 2011 3:30 PM Subject: licensing recommendations

I find this disturbing:

http://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/redesign/docs/health_disparities_report.pdf

on page 40

>The

Workgroup recommends Medicaid reimbursement for breastfeeding support

services conducted by a specially trained lactation counselor. Analogous to coverage currently authorized for diabetes education and

asthma counseling, this service conducted by a specially trained

lactation counselor would be billed to Medicaid under the license of

a professional (MD, DO, NP, PA, NMW, RD, RN, other) in New York

State. Coverage of breastfeeding support and counseling will be

required by insurance exchanges by January 1, 2013.<

What does this really mean? How would it affect those of us in PP who work independently?And on page 41:

>Concerns

with Recommendation:Overall

the recommendations suggest significant system changes to enhance

initial and ongoing Medicaid coverage to promote maternal and child

health. Specific concerns include a limited number of CLC health

care professionals to support breastfeeding recommendations. Time

will be needed to institute statewide training and certification.<

Why is there absolutely NO mention of IBCLCs????What the heck is a specially trained

lactation counselor?

norma

Norma Ritter, IBCLC, RLCBreastfeeding Matters in the Capital Regionwww.NormaRitter.comJoin us on Facebook for the latest birthing and breastfeeding news and views:

http://tinyurl.com/BMCRonFB

[Guest guest]

Because our professional organization is not on the ball and and our certifying

body has sold us down the river? That's my best guess. No one wants to hear that

it will NOT be IBCLCs making the regs for licensure--it will be anyone and

everyone already licensed trying to make sure we take nothing from them. And

they do that by making sure they " oversee " us--or whomever they think is a

" lactation specialist " .

We may have been around for 25 years, but apparently no one knows it but us.

Tow, IBCLC

>

> > Oh my! Who wrote this and it does seem that even though the IBCLC

credential has been used for over 25 years, the government and the healthcare

industry have not looked at it as the specially trained professional. It sounds

as though they are using the CLC (Certified Lactation Counselor) as the

authority and really the 'specially trained lactation 'counselor' still need to

bill under one of the others listed (MD, DO, NP, etc).

> >

> > I know it's 'only' New York. But I can see others following in there

footsteps.

> >

> > Cheryl

> >

> >

> > To: ibclc-pp < >

> > Sent: Friday, December 2, 2011 3:30 PM

> > Subject: licensing recommendations

> >

> >

> > I find this disturbing:

> >

http://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/redesign/docs/health_disparities_r\

eport.pdf

> > on page 40

> > >The Workgroup recommends Medicaid reimbursement for breastfeeding support

services conducted by a specially trained lactation counselor. Analogous to

coverage currently authorized for diabetes education and asthma counseling, this

service conducted by a specially trained lactation counselor would be billed to

Medicaid under the license of a professional (MD, DO, NP, PA, NMW, RD, RN,

other) in New York State. Coverage of breastfeeding support and counseling will

be required by insurance exchanges by January 1, 2013.<

> > What does this really mean? How would it affect those of us in PP who work

independently?

> > And on page 41:

> > >Concerns with Recommendation:

> > Overall the recommendations suggest significant system changes to enhance

initial and ongoing Medicaid coverage to promote maternal and child health.

Specific concerns include a limited number of CLC health care professionals to

support breastfeeding recommendations. Time will be needed to institute

statewide training and certification.<

> > Why is there absolutely NO mention of IBCLCs????

> > What the heck is a specially trained lactation counselor?

> >

> > norma

> >

> > Norma Ritter, IBCLC, RLC

> > Breastfeeding Matters in the Capital Region

> > www.NormaRitter.com

> > Join us on Facebook for the latest birthing and breastfeeding news and

views:

> > http://tinyurl.com/BMCRonFB

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

>>Because our professional organization is not on the ball and and our certifying body has sold us down the river? That's my best guess. No one wants to hear that it will NOT be IBCLCs making the regs for licensure--it will be anyone and everyone already licensed trying to make sure we take nothing from them. And they do that by making sure they "oversee" us--or whomever they think is a "lactation specialist".

We may have been around for 25 years, but apparently no one knows it but us.

Tow, IBCLC<<

Yes, that bears repeating. That is exactly how it seems. Someone doesn't want their piece of the pie taken away and someone stepped up and put another credential in the document over the IBCLC and then just allowed the lump of 'lactation specialist' to be used. And the 25 years, makes it seem like we've only been tooting our own horn or only 'preaching to the choir'. Cheryl n, IBCLC

[Guest guest]

wrote, "  No one wants to hear that it will NOT be IBCLCs making the regs for licensure. "  That is a very important issue that has a lot to do with how licensing regs are written. I know that in NY when they were getting licensing approved for medical technologists, this was a big issue and there were disputes even amongst the " experts " as to how it should be written. In any given state, one cannot be assured that the final law will actually be in the best interests of patients or LCs.  It is all about who has the power, including political power, in that state. And I would note that medical technologists and the labs they work in did not suddenly garner more respect from the other health care professionals when licensing went into place. As far as I could see, nothing changed except we had to pay more money in order to work in NY and had to continue to pay forevermore. Also, although I dare say there are a lot more med techs than LCs in NY, our fees are in the hundreds of dollars because there aren't that many, say compared to nurses.

The real power to increase the competency at the start still remains with the credentialing bodies who set down the rules for who can sit for the registry exam and what is required to maintain that credential. In the case of a medical technologist, you must complete an accredited university program which includes an internship program in the final year and no, you cannot use hours accrued before you were in the program to count towards your accreditation and your internship must be carefully supervised and documented according to standards enacted by the university or school you are attending. If you want to be recognized as a specialist in any one area, you must study and pass an advanced test in that specialty. 

While I am not prepared to say right now that we should never be pursuing licensing, I think that the issue is much more complicated that it may appear on the surface and will not be the great problem-solver that some of our colleagues believe that it will be. It can, in fact, lead to other problems, perhaps even more serious than those that licensing is supposed to fix.

Sharon Knorr