Hi all, I have to give a talk on health care reform and how it will impact breastfeeding and the future of lactation consultants and childbirth educators. I'd like it to be current & timely. Since we still have a mixed bag of insurance types in the US -- still some fee for service, PPO, HMO & managed care/capitation, I'd like some ideas on how you think moving to a managed care/capitation type of system -- which is SO good for insurances companies and their CEOs -- though I'm not convinced it truly has reduced health care costs necessarily -- will impact the future of LCs in hospitals, offices, in private practice, etc. What about childbirth educators and their future in private practice, hospitals, and so on? Has anyone had any success convincing a managed care company that they need to pay for lactation consultants? If women can't get their insurance to pay for LCs, what do you think the options are going to be? Feel free to e-mail me privately, though I think this may be a great discussion for us all! Jan Barger, in Wheaton, where it is sunny, nippy, and the leaves are very nearly gone...