Remove Lactation Care Barriers for BCBS Oklahoma Families
Remove Lactation Care Barriers for BCBS Oklahoma Families
Recent signers:
Marsha smith and 19 others have signed recently.
The Issue
- Anthem and BCBS Oklahoma will not allow International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) to be in-network providers. This has left families across Oklahoma without access to in-person, home or office-based, or virtual lactation visits through their insurance.
- This policy shift comes at a time when families need support the most. Lactation and feeding support is not a luxury—it is essential healthcare. Research consistently shows that early lactation support:
- Improves breastfeeding success and duration, which is linked to healthier outcomes for both infants and mothers. -Reduces the risk of childhood infections, obesity, and chronic disease.
- Lowers maternal risk of postpartum depression, anxiety, and certain cancers.
- Strengthens parent–infant bonding and mental health during a vulnerable time.
- Without insurance coverage, many families will be forced to forgo this critical support, especially those already facing financial strain in the postpartum period. This not only creates inequities in access to care but also carries long-term costs to the healthcare system. Preventing problems early through lactation care is far more cost-effective than treating complications later.
- We are asking Anthem and BCBS OK to reconsider this harmful decision and instate lactation support as a covered benefit. Access to IBCLCs is a lifeline for new families, and denying coverage runs counter to the principles of preventive care, maternal health, and infant well-being.
- We call on Anthem and BCBS OK to:
- Instate coverage for lactation services directly by IBCLCs who are healthcare providers.
- Recognize IBCLCs as essential members of the healthcare team, worthy of fair reimbursement and in-network participation.
- Enable reimbursement for services provided to both the mother and the infant, as each is a distinct patient in this specialized model of care.
- Prioritize the long-term health and mental well-being of mothers, babies, and families in Oklahoma and beyond. Families deserve better. We invite our past and present clients, along with all who value maternal and infant health, to join us in signing this petition. Together, we can make our voices heard and advocate for the care that every family deserves.
- We, the undersigned families, parents, and community members, are writing to urge Anthem and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma to instate insurance coverage for lactation and infant feeding support.
- This statement was created by IBCLC in Virginia. Virginia BCBS has instated coverage.
- Signed,
- Ashley Kula-Imtiaz, IBCLC
- Rachel Johnson, RN, IBCLC
Ashley Kula-ImtiazPetition Starter
275
Recent signers:
Marsha smith and 19 others have signed recently.
The Issue
- Anthem and BCBS Oklahoma will not allow International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) to be in-network providers. This has left families across Oklahoma without access to in-person, home or office-based, or virtual lactation visits through their insurance.
- This policy shift comes at a time when families need support the most. Lactation and feeding support is not a luxury—it is essential healthcare. Research consistently shows that early lactation support:
- Improves breastfeeding success and duration, which is linked to healthier outcomes for both infants and mothers. -Reduces the risk of childhood infections, obesity, and chronic disease.
- Lowers maternal risk of postpartum depression, anxiety, and certain cancers.
- Strengthens parent–infant bonding and mental health during a vulnerable time.
- Without insurance coverage, many families will be forced to forgo this critical support, especially those already facing financial strain in the postpartum period. This not only creates inequities in access to care but also carries long-term costs to the healthcare system. Preventing problems early through lactation care is far more cost-effective than treating complications later.
- We are asking Anthem and BCBS OK to reconsider this harmful decision and instate lactation support as a covered benefit. Access to IBCLCs is a lifeline for new families, and denying coverage runs counter to the principles of preventive care, maternal health, and infant well-being.
- We call on Anthem and BCBS OK to:
- Instate coverage for lactation services directly by IBCLCs who are healthcare providers.
- Recognize IBCLCs as essential members of the healthcare team, worthy of fair reimbursement and in-network participation.
- Enable reimbursement for services provided to both the mother and the infant, as each is a distinct patient in this specialized model of care.
- Prioritize the long-term health and mental well-being of mothers, babies, and families in Oklahoma and beyond. Families deserve better. We invite our past and present clients, along with all who value maternal and infant health, to join us in signing this petition. Together, we can make our voices heard and advocate for the care that every family deserves.
- We, the undersigned families, parents, and community members, are writing to urge Anthem and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma to instate insurance coverage for lactation and infant feeding support.
- This statement was created by IBCLC in Virginia. Virginia BCBS has instated coverage.
- Signed,
- Ashley Kula-Imtiaz, IBCLC
- Rachel Johnson, RN, IBCLC
Ashley Kula-ImtiazPetition Starter
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Petition created on February 6, 2026