What's happening
This bill expands Medicaid coverage for lactation counseling to include services from any qualified lactation care provider certified by an approved accrediting agency.
Why it matters
Expanding provider eligibility allows more types of certified lactation professionals to offer Medicaid-covered services. , which could mean greater access for pregnant and postpartum women, especially in underserved or rural areas where certified lactation consultants are scarce.
By referencing nationally recognized accrediting agencies (and requiring the commissioner to designate more than one), the bill increases flexibility and diversity in lactation credentials. , potentially supporting a broader, more inclusive workforce of lactation care providers.
Removing the requirement that lactation counseling services be ordered by specific medical professionals (like doctors or nurse practitioners) may lower barriers and speed up access to care. , allowing women to seek help for breastfeeding challenges more directly and efficiently.
Ensuring Medicaid reimbursement for a wider pool of lactation care providers could improve breastfeeding rates and related health outcomes. by making professional support more accessible, which is linked to better maternal and infant health, reduced healthcare costs, and decreased health disparities.
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Who cares
Pregnant and postpartum Medicaid beneficiaries
The bill would remove the requirement for a clinician’s order to receive covered lactation counseling services.
Lactation care providers
Providers with current certification from a program accredited by a designated nationally recognized agency could qualify to deliver covered counseling.
New York State Department of Health
The health commissioner would determine provider qualifications and designate more than one nationally recognized accrediting agency.
Physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and licensed midwives
Their orders would no longer be required for Medicaid lactation counseling, while existing licensure and scope-of-practice rules would remain unchanged.
Headline styles
Expand Lactation Counseling Access
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
19 Co-sponsors
3 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to rules
- Delivered to senate
- Passed assembly
- Amended on third reading 8788b
- Amended on third reading 8788a
- Advanced to third reading cal.876
- Reported
- Reported referred to ways and means
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Expand Lactation Counseling Access
In Senate Committee · Health · Sponsor Pamela Helming
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
8788--B Cal. No. 876
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
November 27, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. SOLAGES, NORRIS, MORINELLO, PELLEGRINO, GOTT- FRIED, ARROYO, WILLIAMS, GLICK, DICKENS, D'URSO, JAFFEE, CRESPO, HYND- MAN, BARRON, LAVINE, L. ROSENTHAL, BLAKE, RIVERA -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK, EPSTEIN, SIMON -- read once… Show allHide
Introduced by M. of A. SOLAGES, NORRIS, MORINELLO, PELLEGRINO, GOTT- FRIED, ARROYO, WILLIAMS, GLICK, DICKENS, D'URSO, JAFFEE, CRESPO, HYND- MAN, BARRON, LAVINE, L. ROSENTHAL, BLAKE, RIVERA -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK, EPSTEIN, SIMON -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health -- recommitted to the Committee on Health in accordance with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- reported and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means -- reported from committee, advanced to a third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place on the order of third reading -- again amended on third reading, ordered reprinted, retaining its place on the order of third reading
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to lactation counseling services
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (x) of subdivision 2 of section 365-a of the social services law, as added by section 6 of part D of chapter 56 of the laws of 2012, is amended to read as follows:
(x)(i) lactation counseling services for pregnant and postpartum women [when such services are ordered by a physician, registered physician assistant, registered nurse practitioner, or licensed midwife and] provided by a [certified] qualified lactation [consultant] care provider, as determined by the commissioner of health; provided, however, that the provisions of this paragraph shall not take effect unless all necessary approvals under federal law and regulation have been obtained to receive federal financial participation in the costs of health care services provided pursuant to this paragraph. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to modify any licensure, certification or scope of practice provision under title eight of the education law.
(ii) For the purposes of this paragraph, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13211-10-8
A. 8788--B 2
(1) "Qualified lactation care provider" shall mean a person who possesses current certification as a lactation care provider from a certification program accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency.
(2) "Nationally recognized accrediting agency" shall mean a nationally recognized accrediting agency designated by the commissioner; provided that the commissioner shall designate more than one agency.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.