I've been a lurker for months, but never posted.  Please forgive me if I
don't follow the guidelines:)  I've searched the archives with no real
success on this issue.

I consider myself to be a lactation educator (I've taken the Lactation
Specialist/Educator course from Evergreen Hospital and Medical Center in
Kirkland, WA) and am a lactation intern with an IBCLC in private practice
-- we're considering partnership when I obtain my IBCLC (aiming for July
2001).  Neither my mentor nor myself have any sort of credentials (i.e. RN)
that is recognized by our state (Washington).  We have an informal contract
with an HMO and have been trying to get a contract with the only other
large scale insurance company (not HMO) in town.  This other insurance
company told us that we need to be certified by the state of Washington in
order to obtain a contract with them.  We've been informed that a recent
bill has passed in Washington allowing us as allied health care providers
to bill insurance companies and they MUST pay.  Unfortunately, this new
bill has not been enforced and the insurance companies are still denying us
payment.  We must, therefore, have our clients self-pay for a service that
would otherwise be covered by their insurance.  Pardon my naivete if I'm
stomping on well-trodden territory, but I was wondering if anyone could
offer me some advice or tell me of your experiences.  Is it possible for a
certifying body (like the state dental or medical board) to be established
for lactation consultants in our state?  Has it been done in any others?
Where would I start?  Would there be a blanket certifying body for all
allied health providers with a sub-category for LCs?  For anyone that has
knowledge specifically of Washington, has there been any move made toward
starting such certification?  I know that the IBLCE is recognized
INTERNATIONALLY as the gold standard in lactation certification -- how
would we incorporate the two?  Is state certification really necessary?
How could I get the state insurance commissioner to EFFECTIVELY enforce the
new legislation?  I am currently enrolled in college (more to meet the
IBLCE education requirements that anything else at this point).  I'd
already started my accounting track in college a few years prior to being
introduced to the field of lactation and it would not be effective for me
to switch from my business track now if I can avoid it -- besides, I
shouldn't have to.  I suppose I could muddle my way through nursing school,
but there's no way I could do what they do (great respect for nurses, if
you diidn't catch that :)), so what's the point.

I have so many questions, I can't possibly list them all, but I would
appreciate you sharing with me any knowledge you may have.  Please post
here or email me privately, whichever is most appropriate for LACTNET.


I apologize for the length of this post, especially if I included too much
information.  I can be quite wordy!

Sincerely,
Melissa Mills
[log in to unmask]
Spokane, WA

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