FLCA Policy and Advocacy Committee Goals:
1)Support the licensure of IBCLCs in Florida, ensuring quality, safety, and professional accountability.
Currently in Florida, there are no regulatory requirements for lactation professionals to hold any professional certification or licensure.
2)Add IBCLCs to the Florida Medicaid provider list, allowing us to bill directly for services and reach the families who need us most.
Florida Medicaid, as well as other insurance providers in Florida are permitted to make their own recommendations and recognitions on providers of lactation care.
For example, Florida Medicaid will reimburse lactation education under Doula services through Sunshine Health. (CPT S9443) or if the provider is registered as a Medicaid physician or nurse practitioner. This policy gap excludes the majority of IBCLC's who are not physicians or nurse practitioners. This policy also limits the care that over 40% of women in Florida have access to.
3) Ensure the medical community, public, and lawmakers understand the differences in lactation care. Everyone can and should provide breastfeeding promotion, protection and support. IBCLCs are the most trained academically and in practice for clinical care. Doulas, WIC peer counselors, La Leche League leaders, and those who take courses in breastfeeding are not the same as a Lactation Consultant.
1)Support the licensure of IBCLCs in Florida, ensuring quality, safety, and professional accountability.
Currently in Florida, there are no regulatory requirements for lactation professionals to hold any professional certification or licensure.
2)Add IBCLCs to the Florida Medicaid provider list, allowing us to bill directly for services and reach the families who need us most.
Florida Medicaid, as well as other insurance providers in Florida are permitted to make their own recommendations and recognitions on providers of lactation care.
For example, Florida Medicaid will reimburse lactation education under Doula services through Sunshine Health. (CPT S9443) or if the provider is registered as a Medicaid physician or nurse practitioner. This policy gap excludes the majority of IBCLC's who are not physicians or nurse practitioners. This policy also limits the care that over 40% of women in Florida have access to.
3) Ensure the medical community, public, and lawmakers understand the differences in lactation care. Everyone can and should provide breastfeeding promotion, protection and support. IBCLCs are the most trained academically and in practice for clinical care. Doulas, WIC peer counselors, La Leche League leaders, and those who take courses in breastfeeding are not the same as a Lactation Consultant.
FLCA Advocacy Efforts
1) Sign the petition https://www.change.org/p/support-licensure-and-medicaid-recognition-for-lactation-consultants-ibclc-s-in-florida
2) Share with those who reside in Florida
3) Write your local lawmakers. Licensure and or Medicaid recognition will require legislative action.
4) Feel free to use your own story and words, or use some of this suggested text from the petition- the key is to make your communication brief, factual, and keep your “ask” in the first sentence. Contextualize your communication to the interests of your legislator ( are they strong family advocates, strong on looking ways to reduce medical spending, interested in infant safety, etc).
5) Offer to meet and provide education for your legislator, and contact the PAC for resources. We are happy to provide you talking points and materials! mirinerichey@icloud.com
1) Sign the petition https://www.change.org/p/support-licensure-and-medicaid-recognition-for-lactation-consultants-ibclc-s-in-florida
2) Share with those who reside in Florida
3) Write your local lawmakers. Licensure and or Medicaid recognition will require legislative action.
- Find your Sentor https://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/Districts
- Find your Representative https://www.flhouse.gov/FindYourRepresentative
4) Feel free to use your own story and words, or use some of this suggested text from the petition- the key is to make your communication brief, factual, and keep your “ask” in the first sentence. Contextualize your communication to the interests of your legislator ( are they strong family advocates, strong on looking ways to reduce medical spending, interested in infant safety, etc).
5) Offer to meet and provide education for your legislator, and contact the PAC for resources. We are happy to provide you talking points and materials! mirinerichey@icloud.com
Resources
National Lactation Consultant Alliance https://nlca.us/
US Lactation Consultant Association https://uslca.org/licensing-ibclc/
US Lactation Consultant Association Who’s Who in Lactation Support https://uslca.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Whos-Who-August-2020.pdf
National Lactation Consultant Alliance https://nlca.us/
US Lactation Consultant Association https://uslca.org/licensing-ibclc/
US Lactation Consultant Association Who’s Who in Lactation Support https://uslca.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Whos-Who-August-2020.pdf
Key Points in Florida
FSS 383.015 Breastfeeding.—This statute relates to supporting breastfeeding in public and states "The breastfeeding of a baby is an important and basic act of nurture which must be encouraged in the interests of maternal and child health and family values"
FSS 383.011 Administration of maternal and child health programs. This statute charges Florida Department of Health with ensuring that " Maternal and child health services shall include encouragement of breastfeeding.” This is generally passed through FDOH to Florida Healthy Start programs.
Florida Healthy Start Standards and Guidelines, Chapter 18, states:
Lactation consultants are certified by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE). The competencies of a lactation consultant include those listed for breastfeeding educators above, plus the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (include):
Provide assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation for complex or unusual
breastfeeding situations (premature babies, multiples, slow gaining infants, congenital
anomalies, suck training, etc.);
Provide assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation for persistent problems that
do not respond to the usual management measures (sore nipples or engorgement, etc.);
Assess complexity of participant problems and appropriately refer to a physician
FSS 383.015 Breastfeeding.—This statute relates to supporting breastfeeding in public and states "The breastfeeding of a baby is an important and basic act of nurture which must be encouraged in the interests of maternal and child health and family values"
FSS 383.011 Administration of maternal and child health programs. This statute charges Florida Department of Health with ensuring that " Maternal and child health services shall include encouragement of breastfeeding.” This is generally passed through FDOH to Florida Healthy Start programs.
Florida Healthy Start Standards and Guidelines, Chapter 18, states:
Lactation consultants are certified by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE). The competencies of a lactation consultant include those listed for breastfeeding educators above, plus the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (include):
Provide assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation for complex or unusual
breastfeeding situations (premature babies, multiples, slow gaining infants, congenital
anomalies, suck training, etc.);
Provide assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation for persistent problems that
do not respond to the usual management measures (sore nipples or engorgement, etc.);
Assess complexity of participant problems and appropriately refer to a physician
| stay_in_your_lane_2017.pdf |
PAC is open to any FLCA member who wishes to participate. We meet as needed and follow Florida policies and efforts emerging during legislative session. (January through April).
Members:
Chair, Mirine Richey, DrPH, MPH, IBCLC
Amy Harvick, APRN, IBCLC
Maureen Crissy, RN, BSN, IBCLC
Tiffany Shiver, IBCLC
Members:
Chair, Mirine Richey, DrPH, MPH, IBCLC
Amy Harvick, APRN, IBCLC
Maureen Crissy, RN, BSN, IBCLC
Tiffany Shiver, IBCLC