Stakeholders gauge interest in new coalition
By Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
Updated 8:08 AM CDT, Wed June 30, 2021
WASHINGTON – A group of about 40 providers and manufacturers participated in a call in May to discuss whether there’s enough interest to form a Breast Pump Policy Coalition that could tackle a host of issues related to the product category.
“We’re still in the discovery phase,” said Ryan Bullock, COO of Aeroflow and co-chair of the coalition, which AAHomecare is spearheading. “We’ve sent out a follow-up survey to gauge their ongoing interest and willingness to participate, and from there, we will determine if we make this an official coalition.”
Among some of the key concerns identified on the call: consistent coverage policies among payers. Although breast pumps have been covered since the Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010, many payers are still adapting their medical coverage guidelines for the coverage of pumps and associated re-supplies, says Bullock.
Eliminating sales tax on the pumps is another area of focus, he said.
“Depending on the state, some specifically call out breast pumps (as being taxable),” said Bullock. “We are not able to collect that when billing insurance, nor collect it from the patient. We take that out of what we are being reimbursed to cover that.”
The coalition is also interested in developing a white paper, in collaboration with breast pump manufacturers, on the clinical benefits of breast feeding, Bullock said.
“We want to continue showing its benefits and the need for the mom to have that breast pump as part of her journey,” he said.
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