Martha wrote: "I just took a new job at our local level III hospital as part of the lactation team. Within a week of being hired, I learned that our organization will soon be starting an outpatient lactation program. The program will utilize the same staff that currently does inpatient LC care. We have lots of questions: * how to register clients as outpatients who will be seen in an inpatient setting * protocols for outpatient lactation * billing, of course * see all babies, or only up to a certain age? * do moms self-refer or do they need referral from a doctor?" In my hospital I do the inpatient and outpatient LC visits. We register clients as outpatients, similar to those prenatal patients who come in with UTIs or some other complaint, but are not admitted. Billing is done by the hospital billing department. The women is registered in the computer and signs a form agreeing to pay for services rendered. The service is open to any lactating women, any age baby. In our area there is no insurance coverage for now, so moms can self-refer. We have heard that the insurance companies are starting to look at coverage for LC services and that it might happen in another year or so. Barb Berges BS, RN, IBCLC Rochester, New York *********************************************** 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