Legislator pushes for donor breast milk insurance coverage

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A state legislator hosted a rally on Nov. 21 to urge Gov. Andrew Cuomo to sign a bill that would expand insurance coverage for donor breast milk, making it more affordable for women who are on a fixed income and cannot provide breast milk themselves.

“I strongly encourage Governor Cuomo to support New York State’s families and sign Nikolas’ Bill into law,” said Assemblywoman Michaelle C. Solages (D-Elmont) in a news release. “This legislation provides critical support for our youngest New Yorkers. Their life should not be compared to the value of a dollar.”

The legislation, known as “Nikolas’ bill,” passed in the Senate and the House unanimously and was sent to Gov. Cuomo in June. Solages called the rally in fear of the bill’s veto due to the expense of providing Medicaid coverage for donor breast milk.

"The tiniest, sickest babies in New York are depending on Governor Cuomo to do the right thing. Their lives may depend on his actions in the next few days," said Elie Ward, director of policy and advocacy for the New York State American Academy of Pediatrics. "This is a health equity issue. Very sick newborns and infants from low-income families should have the same access to life saving donor breast milk as babies born to wealthier families. Medicaid coverage is the way to provide that equity, since more that 70 percent of preterm births are covered by Medicaid in New York.”

In September, New York’s first-ever breast milk bank opened in Westchester, New York Milk Bank.

Approximately one in 10 babies is born prematurely, according to NYMB. These infants often face significant health challenges and are at risk for developing the serious intestinal disease, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), which may be fatal. Feeding premature babies exclusively with human breast milk can dramatically reduce the risk, so it is crucial that hospitals have a dependable, affordable supply of pasteurized donor human milk, or PDHM.

New York State will need an estimated 200,000 ounces of PDHM per year just to meet the needs of the smallest premature infants. Until the opening of NYMB, milk donated by mothers in New York has been sent to milk banks in other states for processing and distribution.

 Already, more than 20 hospitals in New York are using donor milk. The NYMB is working with others to ensure donor milk is available to all infants in need across the state. Mothers who have been screened by the NYMB can donate milk at one of the 16 depots in New York accepting donations — from Buffalo to New York City — with more opening in the coming months. Mothers may also ship their frozen milk directly to the NYMB.