Mothers who receive or qualify for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program or have lower income are less likely to start and continue breastfeeding than their more advantaged counterparts. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires employers to provide break time and space to express breast milk and requires insurance companies to cover breastfeeding support, supplies, and counseling at no cost to mothers. This ACA benefit does not extend to all Medicaid recipients or women in the WIC program. Legislative and regulatory efforts are needed to provide comprehensive coverage for all women and reduce disparities in breastfeeding.
Key points
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Mothers who receive or qualify for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) or have lower income are less likely to start and continue breastfeeding than their more advantaged counterparts.
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As of March 23, 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) required employers to provide reasonable break time and space to express breast milk.
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As of January 1, 2013, the ACA required insurance companies to cover breastfeeding support, supplies, and counseling at no cost to new mothers.
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This ACA preventive care benefit does not generally extend to all Medicaid recipients or women in the WIC program.
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State and federal legislative and regulatory efforts will be needed to provide comprehensive coverage for all women and reduce disparities in breastfeeding.
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