Two bills advancing in the state legislature would give lower-income Arizona mothers more access to breastfeeding support.
Both bills are sponsored by Republican Rep. Lisa Fink. She said breastfeeding is linked to a number of positive outcomes.
“I look at it as preventative care,” Fink said during a Jan. 22 House Health and Human Services committee hearing. “We see definitely a decrease in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, a decrease in asthma and allergies, so very much beneficial. It’s also beneficial for the mother.”
But Fink said lower-income mothers breastfeed at lower rates.
About half of all births in Arizona are covered by the state’s Medicaid program, AHCCCS.
One of Fink’s bills, House Bill 2051, would require AHCCCS to cover breastfeeding and lactation care services, including consultations, education and counseling provided in inpatient, outpatient, home-based or group settings.
“Private insurance already covers this, but unfortunately right now, AHCCCS does not, so we see a disparity in coverage there,” Fink said.
Kelsey Glynn, with the organization Chamber of Mothers, told committee members that many new mothers struggle to breastfeed and a lactation consultant can provide essential guidance.
“When that support is unavailable, the consequences show up quickly in maternal mental health and infant feeding outcomes,” Glynn said.
Damien Carpenter, legislative liaison for AHCCCS, said the agency’s position is neutral on the bill. He said AHCCCS is still putting together cost estimates for covering lactation care.
Fink’s other bill, HB 2072, would create an optional state certification program for lactation care providers under the Arizona Department of Health Services to allow lactation consultants to be reimbursed through AHCCCS.
Both passed unanimously through committee and will head to the full House.
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