The way it was explained to me is that hospitals want the "license".
Regardless of their job description, every person is expected to perform
according to and to the level of their highest license. RNs have a license.
IBCLCs don't.
1)Licenses are recognized in court. To my knowledge, the IBCLC Standards of
Practice have not yet been tested in court.
2)Insurance providers won't pay for services of any unlicensed worker. All
costs associated with unlicensed workers must be included in the capitated
amount allowed for any given diagnosis. Those of you who are buried in HMOs
understand those problems. There are some RN services that will be paid for
by insurance providers, but almost NO coverage is allowed by HMOs for
unlicensed IBCLCs. That's why many hospitals require their IBCLCs to be RNs
also.
3)Of the three IBCLCs in my hospital, one is also an RN. She was designated
the Lead LC by the hospital because of her RN even though both of the
others have a few more years' experience as IBCLC than she does. This is
only an issue with the hosp Admin, not among the three of us.

--- Phyllis Adamson, IBCLC
--- Glendale, AZ, USA
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