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 *********************************************** 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