Guest guest Posted July 22, 2010 Report Share Posted July 22, 2010 Has anyone heard about the new healthcare legislation requirement that lactation support be covered by insurance? I haven't gotten details and I'm trying not to get my hopes up before hearing the official word. Healy Seattle, WA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2010 Report Share Posted July 22, 2010 Yes, but i don't know the details either. It will either be a blessing or a curse. or maybe both! Beebe, M.Ed., IBCLC Lactation Consultant/Postpartum Doula www.second9months.comBreastfeeding Between the Lines: http://second9months.wordpress.com/--- Subject: Re: AccessTo: Date: Thursday, July 22, 2010, 9:40 AM Has anyone heard about the new healthcare legislation requirement that lactation support be covered by insurance? I haven't gotten details and I'm trying not to get my hopes up before hearing the official word. Healy Seattle, WA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2010 Report Share Posted July 22, 2010 So , you're saying that Medicaid DOES reimburse for LC services? Through our state coalition, we are attempting to start the process here in NC to nudge Medicaid to consider reimbursement so we are looking for some examples of states that are already doing this. Can you share the process in WA? Thanks so much!! Vicki CarlsonOak Island, NC I think this is a great discussion for us to be having because it illuminates the challenges for mothers and babies, and lactation consultants.Mothers and babies deserve to receive qualified lactation support. Lactation consultants deserve to be appropriately compensated.The way healthcare support is administrated in the US right now, neither of these ideals are being supported. Because of the lack of insurance benefits for lactation services, many dyads cannot afford the expense of receiving services from an IBCLC. Because lactation consultants deserve compensation and an income we are not in a position to provide services free of cost.This leaves a huge percentage of the women who give birth in the US underserved or lacking access to the services of an IBCLC. In my state, WA, almost half of all births are covered under Medicaid (I think it is 47%). By definition women who meet the criteria for Medicaid benefits are considered low-income and many cannot afford to privately pay for lactation services. The business I work for does serve Medicaid patients, however like illustrated we do so at a considerable loss, they reimburse leass than 15% of what we bill, and when you add an occasional interpreter to the mix, we pay almost -$100 or more to see these patients (or -$100+, once you add the rent for our space, salary of the consultant etc.). The only reason we can provide this service is because the agency is agreeing to support the loss of thousands of dollars every fiscal year, and we see hundreds of couplets a month so the volume clients we see compensates to an extent. There is a huge disparity in accessing lactation resources that our health insurance industry must be lobbied to address. Hotmail is redefining busy with tools for the New Busy. Get more from your inbox. See how. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2010 Report Share Posted July 22, 2010 I have not seen this. I have seen literature addressing the requirement that businesses employing more than 50 employees (and other criteria) will be required to make accommodation for breastfeeding employees. Where did you read that lactation support services will be covered? > > Has anyone heard about the new healthcare legislation requirement that lactation support be covered by insurance? > > I haven't gotten details and I'm trying not to get my hopes up before hearing the official word. > > Healy > Seattle, WA > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2010 Report Share Posted July 22, 2010 i don't know if i read it anywhere, but maybe just heard something through the grapevine. or maybe i dreamed it! Beebe, M.Ed., IBCLC Lactation Consultant/Postpartum Doula www.second9months.comBreastfeeding Between the Lines: http://second9months.wordpress.com/--- Subject: Re: AccessTo: Date: Thursday, July 22, 2010, 11:28 AM I have not seen this. I have seen literature addressing the requirement that businesses employing more than 50 employees (and other criteria) will be required to make accommodation for breastfeeding employees. Where did you read that lactation support services will be covered? > > Has anyone heard about the new healthcare legislation requirement that lactation support be covered by insurance? > > I haven't gotten details and I'm trying not to get my hopes up before hearing the official word. > > Healy > Seattle, WA > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 24, 2010 Report Share Posted July 24, 2010 Hello Ladies, I have been reading the posts concerning lack, of access to IBCLC services. I am the chair of the Licensure and Reimbursement Committee for USLCA and we are working on this issue. I am going to upload the Reimbursement White Paper that we have just published. You can download it. Please use this paper to familiarize yourself with the issue and take it to those authorities who are in a position to affect change in this area. These include your state insurance commissioner and medicaid insurance medical director.You should also share this with your local USLCA chapters and State and local breastfeeding coalitions as well as public health officials at all levels. We are aware of the issues and very much seeking change. This is just the beginning of our efforts that you will hear of through USLCA and the USBC. For our work to benefit all mothers and babies, we need you to support and be active in these organizations. Read you regular newsletters for progress reports. Judy Gutowski, BA, IBCLC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 25, 2010 Report Share Posted July 25, 2010 Did you send the download? Thanks so much. Vicki Carlson Current Past Chair North Carolina Breastfeeding Coalition Oak Island, NC To: From: jlgutowski@...Date: Sat, 24 Jul 2010 14:53:09 +0000Subject: RE: Access Hello Ladies,I have been reading the posts concerning lack, of access to IBCLC services. I am the chair of the Licensure and Reimbursement Committee for USLCA and we are working on this issue. I am going to upload the Reimbursement White Paper that we have just published. You can download it. Please use this paper to familiarize yourself with the issue and take it to those authorities who are in a position to affect change in this area. These include your state insurance commissioner and medicaid insurance medical director.You should also share this with your local USLCA chapters and State and local breastfeeding coalitions as well as public health officials at all levels. We are aware of the issues and very much seeking change. This is just the beginning of our efforts that you will hear of through USLCA and the USBC. For our work to benefit all mothers and babies, we need you to support and be active in these organizations. Read you regular newsletters for progress reports.Judy Gutowski, BA, IBCLC The New Busy is not the too busy. Combine all your e-mail accounts with Hotmail. Get busy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 25, 2010 Report Share Posted July 25, 2010 Hi Judy, Is there a way to order printed copies of this paper, or it needs to be printed out on our own? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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