Medi-Cal: lactation services.

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Medi-Cal Lactation Services

This law requires Medi-Cal to issue updated guidance on lactation services by July 1, 2027, and allows IBCLCs to become Medi-Cal providers.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the State Department of Health Care Services to create new Medi-Cal guidance on lactation services by July 1, 2027.
• Clarifies that Medi-Cal will cover a range of lactation services such as health education and clinical consultations.
• Allows International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) to become Medi-Cal providers and bill for their services.
• Requires the department to gather input from stakeholders before finalizing the guidance.

Who It Names or Affects

• Medi-Cal beneficiaries who need lactation support or education.
• Health care providers, especially IBCLCs, who can now be reimbursed by Medi-Cal for lactation services.

Terms To Know

International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)

A healthcare professional certified to provide expert advice and support on breastfeeding and related issues.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill's implementation depends on getting approval from the federal government and receiving matching funds.
• It is not clear how many Medi-Cal beneficiaries will use these new lactation services.

Official Summary Text

AB 2160, as amended, Celeste Rodriguez.
Medi-Cal: lactation services.
Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions.
Existing law requires the department to streamline and simplify existing Medi-Cal program procedures to improve access to lactation supports and breast pumps among Medi-Cal beneficiaries.
This bill would require the department to, by July 1, 2027, issue updated Medi-Cal guidance that clarifies Medi-Cal coverage for lactation services. The bill would also require the guidance to, among other things, clarify Medi-Cal coverage policies for a continuum of lactation services, including health education related to
lactation, basic lactation support, and
clinical
lactation consultation. The bill would require the department to seek stakeholder input on draft guidance prior to issuing the guidance.
The bill would require the department to allow a lactation consultant certified as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) to enroll as a Medi-Cal provider and bill for lactation services, as specified.
The bill would make the implementation of these provisions contingent to the extent that federal financial participation is available and any necessary federal approvals are obtained.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF