Winnie and all,
We have been having this same problem at our hospital and it continues
to be an issue.  We have a small "boutique" where we offer many of the
same aids to the general public as are offered to inpatients who need
them.  You're right--there is a huge mark-up in price, to cover the
hospital's handling costs, I'm told.  For now what we are doing is
charging these items on a Mom's bill if she is an admitted patient, but
if she isn't we have lesser prices for the boutique.  These prices I
arrive at by checking the wholesale price and adding what I think the
market will bear, much reduced in every case.
To offset this, several of our nurses make nice, puffy nursing lap
pillows and some other items, with the profit going into the pot, after
their expenses to make them.  Whenever a "higher power" makes rumbling
noises about this whole issue, I bring up the positives, like the profit
from the pillows, or profit from pump rentals, and how our business is
growing in satisfied customers who will want to come back and have more
babies because of our care and conern, and will also tell all their
friends.
I'm not sure how much longer this system will work, but plan to "ride
the train" as long as possible.
I doubt that there is a standard of practice on this issue, but will be
interested to see what others have to say.
Wholesale in Walla Walla, Becky Garcia, RNC,IBCLC

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