Overview

Penn State Health Pediatrics and Penn State Health Women's Health have created the Breastfeeding Medicine Program. Our program is designed to support breastfeeding mothers and their infants throughout the breastfeeding experience by providing the emotional support and tools needed to be successful in breastfeeding. Families have access to onsite lactation specialists, increased breastfeeding education resources and appointments available in breastfeeding-friendly office.

Mothers may schedule an appointment with the lactation consultant to provide assistance with breastfeeding concerns that could include:

  • Prenatal breast or lactation questions
  • Latch difficulties
  • Nipple pain
  • Engorgement
  • Breast milk supply
  • Oversupply
  • Plugged ducts
  • Breastfeeding multiples
  • Return to work
  • Breast pumping
  • Maternal medications and breastfeeding safety
  • Infant refusal to breastfeed or biting

Funding for the Breastfeeding Medicine Program is provided, in part, by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® (CMNH). CMNH has provided breast pumps, specialty breastfeeding chairs and funding for a lactation consultant. To learn more about Children’s Miracle Network at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital, visit CMNHershey.org.

Nancy McDaniel, RN, and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital shows us some of the items for the Penn State Health Breastfeeding Medicine Program that are funded by donations to Children’s Miracle Network. With these items and the expertise of lactation consultants like Nancy, Penn State Health Children’s Hospital is able to support breastfeeding mothers and their infants and provide the emotional support and tools needed to be successful in breastfeeding.

In addition to family-centered programs, Children’s Miracle Network funds life-saving equipment and research. Learn more at http://www.CMNHershey.org.

Clinic Location and Appointments

The Breastfeeding Medicine Program is located in three locations:

Appointments are available Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and may be scheduled by calling 717-531-7300. Appointments may be scheduled in coordination with other women’s health or pediatric appointments when available. The breastfeeding program is available to any mother or infant in our community, regardless of where they receive primary care.

Additional Support

Additional breastfeeding support is available to mothers, family members and referring providers through the Breastfeeding Resource Line at 717-531-MILK (6455). Calls can be made to this line 24 hours a day; messages left will be returned within 24 hours.

For urgent concerns, please call 717-531-7300.

Educational classes and support groups for breastfeeding mothers are available. Click here for a full listing of available classes and support groups.

Insurance coverage

Medical Assistance insurance companies (such as Aetna, UPMC For You and others) cover lactation consultant services completely. Many other insurance companies also provide coverage for this service. Families are encouraged to consult with their insurance company to confirm coverage. Please reference code 8698960 when asking an insurance company about coverage. 

Research

Penn State Pediatric provider Steven Hicks, MD, PhD, is involved in ongoing research regarding breastfeeding and the benefits of breastfeeding for infants.

Ongoing research studies (woman can participate in both studies at the same time):

  • We are looking for pregnant or breastfeeding women to participate in a study to determine genetic factors that underlie low milk supply. Please contact Raz Abdulqadir for more information at 717-531-6259.
  • We are looking for pregnant or breastfeeding women to participate in a study to identify milk-derived factors that may reflect low milk supply. Please contact Raz Abdulqadir for more information at 717-531-6259.

Resources

Helpful videos

Handouts for parents (also available in Spanish)

Links

Breast pumps

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law in 2010. There are many parts of the ACA, but one of the most valuable is that ACA requires health plans to cover breastfeeding support and supplies. Every health plan is different so it is important to contact them and obtain the following information:

  • Does my policy provide coverage for a Breast pump ? Yes/No
  • What type of breast pump is covered?
    • Medical equipment requires insurance codes. Use the code when asking which pump is covered:
      • Manual (hand) breast pump (E0602)
      • Personal use double electric breast pump (E0603) *many patients prefer this type
      • “Hospital Grade” Rental pump (E0604) * Not usually covered by insurance.
  • Which Durable Medical Equipment (DME) company participates with my insurance? Insurance companies require you to obtain your breast pump through a participating Durable Medical Equipment company (DME). Not all DME’s carry breast pumps.
    • Name of  company
    • Phone number
    • Fax number

Below are just a few DME’s that carry breast pumps:

You may need a prescription from your healthcare provider for a breast pump.

Ask the provider to include the following information on the prescription. Without this information the insurance company may deny coverage.

  • Diagnosis code:
  • Procedure code: E0603 (personal use double electric pump), E0602 (Hand pump), E0604 (Hospital-grade rental) *Most likely self-pay
    • Contact the DME and request your breast pump and ask how to obtain it. You may be required to fax or send the prescription if the breast pump will be shipped directly to your home. Otherwise, present it when you pick up the breast pump.

Information regarding about hospital-grade breast pumps

The personal-use breast pump is designed to help a mother maintain her milk production after it is established and when she is separated from her infant. Example: mother returning to work. This type of pump is not meant to be re-used with a future baby or shared with another mother due to the risk of infection and/or motor failure.

The hospital-grade breast pump is designed to assist a new mother to initiate and establish her breast milk supply when the infant is unable to breastfeed, is breastfeeding ineffectively, or the mother and infant are separated. Example: baby in NICU. The programmed pumping patterns are designed to stimulate milk production and empty the breast more effectively than a personal use pump.

The hospital-grade breast pumps are expensive ($1200- $1500) because of the quality of the motor so they are available only as rentals. Currently most insurances will not cover the rental of a hospital-grade breast pump. Rental prices per month range from $65 - $75. They are self-pay.

If you have used the hospital-grade breast pump during your hospital stay, your breast pump kit can be used on a rental breast pump.

A rental pump may be obtained from the following local DME’s:

**Good Samaritan Medical Equipment (GSH)

  • Palmyra: 717-838-7511 Fax: 717-838-9468 (Monday - Friday)
  • Lebanon: 717-272-2057 Fax: 717-272-0796 (Monday - Friday and Saturday 9 - 1:000 p.m.)

Price: $65 / month (may be subject to change)
Breast pump kit = $50

**Babies R Us

5125 Jonestown Road Harrisburg PA
717-671-7101

**Please call for availability and to “reserve” a breast pump prior to pick-up***

Breastfeeding Program Staff

  • Robin Batz, BSN, RN, IBLCL, CPN
  • Saudia DeCarlo, BSN, RN, IBCLC, CCES
  • Natalie DeSantis, BSN, RN, IBCLC
  • Nancy McDaniel, BSN, RN, IBCLC
  • Maureen Schaedler, BSN, RN, IBCLC, CCE 
  • Shelly Silber, BSN, RN, IBCLC
  • Meg Toomey, RN, CPN, CCE, IBCLC
  • Amy Wagner, BSN, RN, IBCLC

Contact us