Breastfeeding Support

Breast Pump Access:

Breastfeeding CAT members are exploring edits to the Medicaid state policy language for breast pump coverage. Mothers on Medicaid typically gain access to a breast pump through enrollment in WIC (which precludes timely access for mothers being discharged when baby is staying behind in the NICU). G-SPAN has prepared a Medicaid coverage for lactation support summary document by gathering Medicaid language from other states. Next steps are to draft state policy language and submit to the Georgia Department of Community Health for consideration.

PUMP Act:

The Fair Labor Standards Act supports employees’ right to breastfeed. On December 29, 2022, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 became law. This legislation introduced the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act (“PUMP Act”), expanding these rights to more nursing employees, including agricultural workers, nurses, teachers, truck and taxi drivers, home care workers and managers. Information about the PUMP act can be found at: FLSA Protections to Pump at Work | U.S. Department of Labor

G-SPAN is working with regional breastfeeding coalitions to identify Georgia worksites, especially those employing a high percent of female employees in hourly wage positions, that will adopt policies to support breastfeeding.