Families deserve insurance coverage when it comes to lactation support. At Wisco Lactation, we are one of the largest private lactation consulting practice in the state of Wisconsin serving thousands of families annually across our communities.

Advocacy for extended Medicaid coverage through the first year postpartum a critically important issue. However, there is a significant barrier impacting families: Medicaid in Wisconsin currently does not recognize IBCLCs as licensed providers, making our services ineligible for reimbursement.

Despite holding a rigorous international certification, and successfully credentialing with major private insurers like UnitedHealthcare, UMR, and Aetna, we remain excluded from Medicaid coverage. Most IBCLCs in private practice support Medicaid families through discounted rates and payment plans, but the financial burden still prevents many from accessing needed care.

We're also facing challenges with Blue Cross Blue Shield, which continues to block IBCLCs from their provider networks, further restricting access for families in Wisconsin.

Another complication comes from The Lactation Network (TLN), a third-party billing company that contracts with IBCLCs nationwide. While TLN provides some out-of-network billing access, their recent cap on covered visits (just 3–6 per family) is often inadequate. These limitations are imposed by TLN—not the insurance companies—which raises serious ethical concerns about restricting care for profit.

We need support in addressing these gaps in coverage. We believe every family in Wisconsin deserves access to expert lactation care without financial or administrative barriers. Please help us by signing this petition to help provide insurance coverage for lactation support in Wisconsin.