RE: Digest Number 648

[Guest guest]

Hello Ghislaine,

In reply to your question

>Do you give me permission to forward this message to other IBCLC here in

Quebec, members of the

>Quebec LC Association Board of Executives, who will be working on this

issue here ?

I would ask you to remove the part I snipped below about my private practice

, but otherwise you may share what I have written about licensure. No need

for the whole world to know how much money I don't make!

<<< " But, the funding ended and the practice has talked about hiring me

because they know LC access helps patients and it helps them because they

don't have the time or the skills I have to handle breastfeeding

probelms. BUT, it would basically come right out of their profit unless we

can get reimbursement which I think we could to a degree, but it would take

time to figure out how to bill it and battle the insurers. Bottom line, I

doubt it will happen. I worked on that grant for a very low wage so I could

stretch the money enough to show some results. So, like you I have been in

private practice for 10 years and I make practcally nothing. The only way I

keep my private practice afloat is a job I have working on a Breastfeeding

Helpline for minimum wage 26 hours a week which brings in a monthly check.

Without it I would also be in the red. I worked well over 40 hours a week

last year and I cleared about $5,000 after I deducting the SSI tax and other

self-employment taxes. My husband was shocked when he saw our tax return.

But I keep telling my self it will change. I frequently consider seeking

work in another field because we are struggling with college tuition, but I

know there is no one else to do what I do here either. " >>>

Please keep me informed of any developments you hear of about licensure.

Judy Gutowski, BA, IBCLC, RLC