Dear Barb,

I am replying with my thoughts to Lactnet too as I think this is an important
issue.  If your pharmacy will only carry an electric pump that costs under
$32.82, PLEASE DO NOT LET THEM CARRY ANY!!  All of the small
electric/batterly pumps for that price are practically worthless.  TOYS!  You
would be harming a lot of mothers who would assume they were getting a good
pump because "after all I got it at the hospital!"  It would be better for
you to teach everyone hand expression or refer them to another lactation
consultant, or store that sells good, efficient, comfortable, effective
pumps, even if their insurance won't pay for it.

I am tired of mothers wearily coming into my office, relating their woes of
cracked bleeding nipples, insufficient milk supply and untimely weaning due
to those little, slow, painful pumps.  The latest was the mom who brought in
one of the new double electric pumps (you all probably know the brands that
have come out this year), her father bought her at the BIG discount store
(you know which store I mean).  It cost $100.  Just to show her, we hooked it
up and counted the cycles per minute.  It is semiautomatic, which means the
mom has to press the button to release every cycle.  We could get 12 to 15
cycles per minute and it hurt!  With the medical grade pump you get 55 cycles
per minute, in perfect comfort, and gallons of milk. It was ridiculous for
these companies to come out with double pumps.  Their pumps were awful
before, now they are twice as bad as people are being fooled.  They have
heard double electric pumps are good for working moms.  They have not learned
the importance of the number of cycles per minute, strong suction with a
maximum of 240 mmhg, and quick release.

If your only option is to sell a cheap pump, and there are none on the market
worth anything for that low price, I hope you will choose not to do it, and
teach all the moms good hand expression, or refer them to somewhere they can
buy a good pump. The Health Department in our area loans out the Nuture III
and the Medela Pedal Pump to working moms.  They work great.  They both cost
more than your limit.   Good pumps are worth it.  As has been discussed
before, the savings is in the cost of formula that is not used. ($100 or more
a month)
Don't get trapped doing the wrong thing because you feel caught by some rule.
Hold out for what you know is right.  Don't let them make money at the
expense of mother, babies, and breastfeeding success.
Let us know what happens,
Jane Bradshaw, RN, BSN, IBCLC
Lynchburg, VA

 In New York State, Medicaid reimbursement for breast pumps has changed.
 They will no longer cover rental pumps.  They will reimburse
 approximately $20.00 for a hand pump.  They will reimburse $32.82 for an
 electric/battery pump.

 The Outpatient Pharmacy in my hospital has been stocking Medela's Little
 Hearts manual pump to supply to these moms.  What brand of pump would
 you suggest for the electric/battery pump?  The wholesale cost must be
 less than the reimbursement amount because the pharmacy must make some
 money on the transaction.

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html