Hello, this is my first post on Lactnet. I am a (new) counselor with the
Nursing Mothers' Council in Boston, a LLL Applicant and a rental station in
Boston, Mass. I am finally risking posting a note despite my terror that I
might accidentally break a Lactnet rule or send this to the wrong bit.
Anyway, here goes...
I was interested that the Harvard Educated Dr. said the 12 month old should
go down to 3 nursings a day. Coincidentally a local pediatrician (don't
know where he was educated) told my La Leche League Leader the same thing
last week - her 14 month old wasn't gaining well; he said, "We really like
to cut them down to three breastfeeds a day once they're over 12 months.."
Is this an old fad or a new one? I hadn't heard about it before.
Plus, I had sent a private post to 'Becky' last week re the breast pain one
of her clients was feeling that didn't seem related to thrush. A local LC
once took over a complicated LLL case here for us and said this was due to
a 'pinched nerve'; and this was marked by a white line on the nipple. Is
this unusual?
Thirdly, I just started doing Medicaid pump rentals. I am not an RN but I
just rent pumps out of my home, and my classification is under the Durable
Medical Equipment bit of Medicaid (so I guess as an RN you could do this).
I must say I have been really pleasantly surprised by the clear and helpful
way Medicaid here in Boston works! It's amazingly simple to be a Medicaid
provider compared to being a provider for Blue Cross (you need Medicare #)
or Tufts (you need Certification) for example. You do need to get prior
approval here though, and only electric pumps for NICU or otherwise
hospitalized babies are covered, I believe. (In New Hampshire I'm told
Medicaid covers pumps for women going back to work).
I think hand pumps are covered for all lactating women (anyone else know
about this?) Once you have learned the right codes it seems pretty
straightforward though you do have to wait for payment (which is why many
big DME places don't like doing pumps). Payment is good too!
I'd be interested to hear about others' experiences with Medicaid. So far I
have not attempted to bill any other lactation services except for pump
rentals...
Anne Merewood ([log in to unmask])