Well, I know what's tops on my list today.

Yesterday I found out that Medicaid will NOT reimburse us for any visits
done by our 2 (wonderful) RN/IBCLCs.  This is definitely a financial
hardship for us.  As a nonprofit we are committed to serving all women
regardless of ability to pay. But we DO have to pay the
rent/electricity/phone bills, employee wages, malpractice insurance...etc.
So what we will probably be forced to do is have the LC interns or BEs see
those women until/unless we can get grant $$ to have the IBCLCs do so.  Some
days this all seems like such a hugely up-hill battle.

So...we could use legislation mandating that medicaid provide moms and
babies with lactation assistance after they are discharged from the
hospital.  Are there any states out there that already do this?

Kathy Leeper, MD, IBCLC
Medical Director
MilkWorks, a nonprofit breastfeeding center providing consultations,
education, support and related supplies in Lincoln, NE---especially
depressed this week as I found out about the above AND agreed to settle my
first malpractice claim involving a medicaid mom/baby 8 years ago.  It is
really hard to feel so unappreciated/disrespected.

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