Breastfeeding support has small price, pays large dividends, stakeholders say

WASHINGTON – As the new co-chairs of the Breastfeeding Coalition, Amanda Minimi of Aeroflow Health and Kathy Mikolajczak of 1 Natural Way say a united front is critical to pushing key priorities forward. 

“By uniting, we bring a broader, more powerful perspective to payers, legislators and decision-makers than any one organization could on its own,” said Mikolajczak. “Our goal is to create access and enhance reimbursement, especially in areas that have been historically overlooked.” 

The coalition, which is part of AAHomecare, has already earned several successes at the state level, including helping to extend postpartum services beyond the traditional 60-day window in Wisconsin, and supporting the removal of sales tax on essential items like diapers and breast pumps in Washington state, South Carolina and Alabama, says Minimi. 

“We’ve been incredibly fortunate to have a coalition filled with passionate, hands-on members whose involvement has directly contributed to several meaningful wins,” she said. “While we’re part of AAHomecare and advocate for the broader DME industry, our coalition is focused on supporting breastfeeding and maternal health throughout the full journey – from prenatal care to postpartum and beyond.” 

‘Compassion and practicality’ 

The coalition works with manufacturers of breast pumps to gather information that identifies and supports the benefits of breastfeeding – information that the coalition then uses in conversations with lawmakers and Medicaid officials, says Mikolajczak. 

“Our conversations with state Medicaid officials and lawmakers have been rooted in compassion and practicality,” she said. “What’s resonated most is that supporting this access doesn’t come with a large price tag. When we break down how the reimbursement structure works – and how much of the market is already covered through insurance – it becomes clear that small policy adjustments can make a big difference for families without adding significant cost.” 

‘Reimbursement squeeze’ 

One of the biggest challenges for providers of breast pumps is reimbursement, says Mikolajczak. 

“Over time, reimbursement rates have either declined or stayed flat,” she said, “while at the same time, providers are facing rising costs of goods. This squeeze makes it increasingly difficult for providers to sustain high-quality care and maintain access for moms.”