Rob,
There is a new 90-page report called "Advancing Women's Health: health plans'
innovative programs in breastfeeding promotion."  It came out in July, a
joint project of the US Dept of Health and Human Services Office of Women's
Health, and the American Association of Health Plans.  In the report eight
health plans/HMOs are presented as case studies in how to promote
breastfeeding "through a range of educational, support, and case management
programs."  There is a bit of cost/benefit information, but there's not much
detail given.  One program (Kaiser Permanente Southern California) saw
significant increases in bf duration, from 54% to 74% at 2 weeks, from 33% to
56% at 2 months, from 22% to 40% at 4 months, and from 17% to 30% at 6
months.  In the same time period they "observed reduced hospital readmission
rates (the most dramatic being a decrease from 1.5% per year to .5%) and
reduced clinic utilization."

The report is being distributed to the members of AAHP.  Let's hope this
inspires more of them to support breastfeeding for their customers.

Cigna Company invited UCLA to do an evaluation of their employee bf support
program.  We're still waiting for the articles from this evaluation to be
published in peer-reviewed journals.  In the meanwhile, a few figures have
been released by people who run the program at Cigna.

CIGNA saved $240 thousand in one year on health care expenses for
breastfeeding mothers and their children. $60 thousand more was saved because
the breastfeeding mothers had fewer absences from work.  Pharmacy costs for
the breastfed children were lower, because they required 62 percent fewer
prescriptions.

Almost 80 percent of the 38,000-employee population at Cigna are women, with
an average age of 35.  There's probably a mathematical formula for figuring
out the birthrate.  The study lasted one year and looked at 343 women with
babies.

AND Cigna's home office is in Pennsylvania!

Chris Mulford, RN, IBCLC
Swarthmore  PA (Eastern USA)

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