Hi Judy:
    First of all, call your pump supplier, here we use M...... products
exclusively.  The sales rep for your area will be glad to supply you with
lots of information.
    I am a rental station that works with hospitals for the past 15
years...my thoughts are:
    Unless a hospital is willing to dedicate a paid person to the pump
rental, billing, and retrieval, find another source for pumps.  Most states
cover Medicaid rentals, many insurances now cover and use preferred
providers, occasionally you will find an agency that provides pumps near
cost.  In our state, WIC has pumps for their clients, and some of the
tribes.  Most rental stations don't offer discounts because that is our
source of income.  I truly know a woman who cried over the phone about how
she couldn't afford a pump and when she was given a greatly reduced rate,
drove up in a sports car wearing a mink.  Most rental stations have been
burnt badly over helping out needy women, including getting a grant for the
mom and then having to go begging her to return it in a timely manner,
incurring long distance charges while doing so (and this one was a teacher,
not a welfare mom).  I gave up being the nice lady with the pumps about 5
years ago.
    Each mom who needs a pump in the hospital or with a baby staying gets a
double pump set-up of her own and is responsibly for cleaning.  Insurance is
billed and always pays for the kit.  I offered to give the NICU a table top
sterilizer for the moms to use and was turned down due to safety and
insurance concerns.  The NICU and ECN have several pumps available for moms
to use while visiting.  If a mom can't get a pump, she can come into the
nursery any time and pump.  Many moms spend the entire day there anyway.
    My observation is that many nurses run around being a helper trying to
find something for nothing. Take a deep breathe and then quiz the mom on her
insurance status, WIC, Medicaid, tribal affiliation, what clinics she goes
to, etc.  Very few moms do without a pump when she and the nurse/LC, along
with the hospital social worker/discharge planner can brainstorm.
    Your best bet is to make friends with the rental stations in your area,
we know who does what and what they charge and who has free pumps, and to
also get on your breastfeeding task force to keep aware of what others in
your area are doing.  I have watched many hospitals want to do good things,
but don't use the resources in their own community.
    Just my .02 worth
        Jacie in sunny Albuquerque, watching a beautiful pink sunset against
the mountains