Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - Public Comment Opportunity on Breast Pump Access and more

In this issue:

• USBC Updates
  • Are you Interested in Joining or Leading an Identity Caucus? We Want to Hear From You!
  • Take Action on the Access to Donor Milk Act
  • Share your Safe Sleep Story this SIDS Awareness Month
  • Welcoming New USBC Members: March for Moms Association and North Central Breastfeeding Task Force
  • It's Hispanic Heritage Month! Share Your Infant Feeding Resources With Us
• National News
  • National Survey of Children's Health Data Released
  • AHRQ Systematic Review on Perinatal Mental Health Treatments
  • Public Comment Opportunity on Over-the-Counter Preventive Services
  • CoverHer Hotline for Insurance Coverage of Women's Preventive Service
  • Maternal Health Funding Awards
• State & Community News
  • Guidance on Insurer Coverage of Donor Milk in New Mexico
  • Massachusetts Bill Introduced Requiring Insurer Coverage of Breastfeeding Support and Supplies
  • Florida Bill Introduced to Establish Paid Parental Leave Program for Some State Employees
  • California Bill Signed Into Law Delays Access to Lactation Rooms in Courthouses
• Action Opportunities
• Upcoming Events
• News & Views
• Journal Publications

 denotes a USBC member organization news item        denotes a USBC-affiliated constellation news item

---

USBC Updates

Are you Interested in Joining or Leading an Identity Caucus? We Want to Hear From You!

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee published a blog post, "Reviving Identity Caucuses at the USBC: We Want to Hear from You!" The blog describes the history of USBC-affiliated identity caucus spaces, shares plans for the future, and invites those who would like to participate in or support the facilitation of identity caucus groups to complete the USBC Identity Caucus Interest Form.

Take Action on the Access to Donor Milk Act

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee released an action tool titled "Tell Policymakers: Donor Milk Saves Lives." Individuals can use the tool to urge their Senators and Representative to support the Access to Donor Milk Act. Access to pasteurized donor milk has been shown to reduce mortality rates, lower healthcare costs, and shorten hospital stays but milk banks are not able to keep up with demand. The strategic federal investments in the bipartisan Access to Donor Milk Act would turn this around, bringing life-saving donor human milk to the infants who need it. Take action with us today!

Share your Safe Sleep Story this SIDS Awareness Month

October is Safe Sleep and SIDS Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about strategies to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related infant deaths and encourage the widespread use of safe infant sleep practices. Babies who are breastfed or fed human milk are at a reduced risk for SIDS. Consistent, integrated messaging about safe infant sleep and breastfeeding is important for all caregivers so they can make informed decisions about caring for babies. The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is collecting stories to better understand the needs and challenges families, childcare workers, and other caregivers face while trying to meet breastfeeding and safe sleep recommendations. Share your story with us today!

Welcoming New USBC Members: March for Moms Association and North Central Breastfeeding Task Force

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is thrilled to welcome two new organizations to the USBC membership! March for Moms Association works to advocate for mothers' and families’ health, well-being, and equal access to care. The North Central Breastfeeding Task Force brings together a group of lactation professionals, breastfeeding advocates, and healthcare providers working to advocate for breastfeeding in Illinois. The USBC warmly welcomes both organizations to the USBC community!

It's Hispanic Heritage Month! Share Your Infant Feeding Resources With Us

It's Hispanic Heritage Month, a time celebrating the rich histories, cultural influences, and contributions of Hispanics/Latinx in the United States. The USBC Hispanic Heritage Month webpage features a curated selection of relevant lactation news and resources. Please share additional tools and resources for consideration to be included on the webpage.

---

National News

 National Survey of Children's Health Data Released

The Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau published the 2022 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) data. The NSCH is the largest national and state‐level survey on the health and well‐being of children, their families, and their communities, providing timely information and comprehensive data on a range of topics, including healthcare quality and access, and physical and mental health. Participating households received one of three age-specific topical questionnaires based on the age of the sampled child. The survey for children aged 0-5 years includes questions on infant feeding practices. 

  AHRQ Systematic Review on Perinatal Mental Health Treatments

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) published a systematic review, "Maternal, Fetal, and Child Outcomes of Mental Health Treatments in Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women: A Systematic Review of Perinatal Pharmacologic Interventions." The review assesses existing studies that examine the benefits and harms of pharmacologic interventions compared with placebo, no treatment, or other pharmacologic interventions for pregnant and postpartum women with mental health disorders.

Public Comment Opportunity on Over-the-Counter Preventive Services

The Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury issued a Request for Information (RFI) on Coverage of Over-the-Counter Preventive Services. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requires insurers to provide coverage without imposing any cost-sharing requirements for a range of preventive services, including breastfeeding support and supplies. While most recommended preventive services require a health care provider to either provide a prescription for an item or service, or to directly furnish a service, several preventive products are available to consumers without the involvement of a provider (OTC preventive products), including breastfeeding supplies. The RFI is seeking public input on how best to ensure coverage and access to OTC preventive services, including the benefits of requiring most health insurance plans to cover these services at no cost and without a prescription by a health care provider. The deadline for submitting comments is Monday, December 4.

CoverHer Hotline for Insurance Coverage of Women's Preventive Services

The National Women's Law Center hosts the CoverHer Hotline. The hotline helps individuals figure out if their insurance company is incorrectly charging them for preventive health care needs, including breastfeeding supplies and lactation consultations, and provides support and information on how to get these services covered. The webpage includes sample appeal letters and a form to request individual support. 

Maternal Health Funding Awards

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced nearly $90 million in awards to support the White House Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis, a whole-of-government strategy to combat maternal mortality and improve maternal and infant health, particularly in underserved communities. These investments support innovative new approaches to improve maternal health, increase access to care in maternity care deserts and other rural and underserved areas, grow and support the maternal health workforce, bolster community-based efforts to address maternal health challenges in areas at the highest risk, and expand screening and treatment for maternal mental health and substance use disorders. Read the press release.

---

State & Community News

Guidance on Insurer Coverage of Donor Milk in New Mexico

The New Mexico Human Services Department issued a Letter of Direction (LOD), "Human Donor Milk Billing and Guidance in an Inpatient Hospital." The purpose of the LOD is to provide Centennial Care Managed Care Organizations with information on the implementation and reimbursement of pasteurized human donor milk in an inpatient setting.

Massachusetts Bill Introduced Requiring Insurer Coverage of Breastfeeding Support and Supplies

Massachusetts Representative Carey introduced An Act improving access to breast pumps (Bill H.967). The bill would require insurers to cover the cost of the rental and usage of a multi-user breast pump by the mother of a newborn infant who is receiving care at an intensive care or special care nursery, or has cardiac, neurological, or oral anomalies that prevent direct feeding at the breast. The breast pump must be made available within 24 hours of maternal hospital discharge. In addition, insurers would be required to cover the periodic replacement of pump parts, breast milk storage bags, and microwave bags for sterilizing pump parts, as well as assessment, instruction, and fitting by an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). A hearing on the bill is scheduled for Tuesday, October 17.

Florida Bill Introduced to Establish Paid Parental Leave Program for Some State Employees

Florida Senator Berman and Representative Gantt introduced Senate Bill 128/House Bill 127. The bill would require Florida to provide 12 weeks of paid parental leave to certain state employees following the birth or adoption of a child. The bill would prohibit the state from requiring an employee to use his or her annual leave or sick leave during the initial 12-week period. 

California Bill Signed Into Law Delays Access to Lactation Rooms in Courthouses

California Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 133 into law. The new law includes a variety of provisions related to the California court system, including delaying the requirement to provide court users access to lactation rooms in courthouses from July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2026.

---

Action Opportunities

The Coalition for Lactation-Friendly Schools: "Sign-on letter to support HB994, which would require schools to provide lactation and other pregnancy and parenting accommodations for students in Pennsylvania"

---

Upcoming Events

Tuesday, October 24:

•  Center for Health Equity, Education, and Research (CHEER): "CHAMPS National Informational Webinar"

Thursday, October 26:

• Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center: "The Complex Interplay Between Breastfeeding & Maternal Mood Disorders"

---

News & Views

 Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA): "HMBANA Applauds Introduction of Legislation Which Would Increase Access to Donor Milk"

 Our Milky Way: "Infant feeding and planetary health go hand in hand"

---

Journal Publications

Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities: "Race and Intention to Breastfeed are the Strongest Predictors of Exclusive Breastfeeding: a Retrospective Study"

Nursing for Women's Health: "An Integrative Review of Breastfeeding and Homelessness"