title: Breastfeeding and the Affordable Care Act.
abstract: Mothers who receive or qualify for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program or have lower income are less likely to start and continue breastfeeding than their more advantaged counterparts. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires employers to provide break time and space to express breast milk and requires insurance companies to cover breastfeeding support, supplies, and counseling at no cost to mothers. This ACA benefit does not extend to all Medicaid recipients or women in the WIC program. Legislative and regulatory efforts are needed to provide comprehensive coverage for all women and reduce disparities in breastfeeding.
authors: Boston College, School of Social Work, McGuinn Hall, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA. Electronic address: summer.hawkins@bc.edu.
authors: Summer Sherburne
authors: SS
authors: Hawkins
authors: Boston College, School of Social Work, McGuinn Hall, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA.
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Dow-Fleisner
authors: Boston College, Law School, 885 Centre Street, Newton Centre, MA 02459, USA.
authors: Alice
authors: A
authors: Noble
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008484:Medicaid; D009035:Mothers; D058991:Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States
keywords: Affordable Care Act; Breastfeeding; Medicaid; Preventative care; WIC