Lactation Care IS HEALTH CARE!

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a U.S. federal law enacted in 2010 to make healthcare more affordable and accessible. It expanded Medicaid, created health insurance marketplaces, and prohibited insurers from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions.

WHY is the ACA important for pregnancy, lactation, and breastfeeding support?

• Maternity and Newborn Care: The ACA designated maternity and newborn care as essential health benefits, requiring all Marketplace insurance plans to cover these services.

• Preventative Services: The ACA mandates coverage for various preventive services without cost-sharing, such as folic acid supplements, gestational diabetes screening, and hepatitis B screening for pregnant women.

• Breastfeeding Support & Counseling: Health insurance plans must provide breastfeeding support and counseling for the duration of breastfeeding, covering services both before and after birth.

• Breastfeeding Equipment: The ACA requires coverage for breastfeeding equipment, including breast pumps, without imposing cost-sharing.

• Workplace Accomodations: The ACA includes provisions for workplace accommodations, ensuring that employers provide reasonable break time and a private, non-bathroom space for employees to express breast milk.

Sources:

• www.healthcare.gov/preventive-care-women/

• www.healthcare.gov/coverage/breast-feeding-benefits/

• www.acog.org/programs/breastfeeding/understanding-health-care-coverage-for-breastfeeding

Lactation Care Is Health Care!