What's happening
This bill expands Medicaid coverage for lactation counseling to include certified lactation care providers accredited by designated national agencies.
Why it matters
Broadens access to Medicaid-covered lactation counseling. by allowing more types of certified professionals (not just those from a single credentialing body) to provide these services, which could increase the availability of support for breastfeeding mothers.
Requires state oversight of accrediting agencies. by mandating that the Commissioner of Health designate multiple nationally recognized organizations for certifying lactation care providers, ensuring standards but also diversity in acceptable credentials.
May improve maternal and infant health outcomes. by making it easier for women, especially those on Medicaid, to obtain lactation counseling from a wider pool of qualified providers, potentially reducing barriers to breastfeeding support.
Could address workforce shortages and cultural competency. by enabling providers from varied backgrounds and training to serve Medicaid populations, possibly leading to better match between patient needs and provider expertise.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Expand Lactation Counseling Access
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
18 Co-sponsors
3 Multi-sponsors
History
- Substituted by S3387
- Advanced to third reading cal.333
- Reported
- Reported referred to ways and means
- 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
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Anna Kaplan
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2345
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 22, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. SOLAGES, NORRIS, MORINELLO, GOTTFRIED, ARROYO, WILLIAMS, GLICK, DICKENS, D'URSO, JAFFEE, CRESPO, HYNDMAN, BARRON, LAVINE, L. ROSENTHAL, BLAKE, RIVERA, SEAWRIGHT -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK, EPSTEIN, SIMON -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health
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:
(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.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04950-01-9
A. 2345 2
(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.