Jane writes:

Until  what LC's do is coded so reimbursement can be paid by third party 
payers which  would be tied to highly respected credentials, accurate 
documentation  standards and scientific rationale for our recommendations, nothing 
will  improve.
~~ In the US, the insurance system is so broken, we are in a really tough  
spot even if IBCLCs gain respect/appropriate referrals/coding. Many  
professionals who are allied healthcare people, like PTs, OTs, prosthetists and  
ocularists ( professionals who make artificial legs and eyes, respectively) 
are  working and documenting for hours a day and still being denied payment 
left and  right by insurance companies who code and re-code and deny and 
delay. Cash flow  for most small practitioner's businesses is putting many in 
danger of collapse  or being eaten by big Wal-Mart like businesses.

It's a sad state of affairs. Being as "independent" as we are at this  
point at least has the advantage that any mom can call an IBCLC and make an  
appointment without waiting to see an MD who will refer or if the insurance  
company recognizes and compensates for the service, ( but may turn around and  
deny payment anyway). My husband has clients who wait for a leg for a 
month,  while paperwork gets sorted through, and then he may find out they never 
get  authorization, or they are told to provide the service, measure and fit 
and  deliver the prosthesis, and then find out they will get no 
reimbursement. It's  scandalous, and how many mothers would find their baby's normal 
feeding skills  so badly affected while waiting for weeks or months to get 
approval to see  and/or work with an IBCLC.

 
 
Peace,
Judy
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