Federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

The Arkansas Breastfeeding Coalition is pleased to announce its support of the Federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) that was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama in March 2010. The Affordable Care Act helps make prevention affordable and accessible for all Americans by requiring new health plans to cover and eliminate cost sharing for preventive services recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, and the Bright Futures Guidelines recommended by the Academy of Pediatrics.

❥ Recommendations:

  • All mothers should receive up to 6 visits with an IBCLC certified lactation consultant per pregnancy without cost sharing in order to establish and maintain breastfeeding. Mothers can benefit from seeing a lactation consultant both prenatally and postpartum.
  • All mothers should be provided information on where she can receive free unlimited telephone counseling for breastfeeding both prenatally and upon discharge from the hospital.