Arkansas Introduces a Bill to Exempt Breast Pump Supplies From Sales Taxes

Published in Women's Health on March 20, 2023

Ask your Arkansas legislators to support HB 1364 (Clowney) and pass this legislation exempting breast pumps, breast pump collection and storage supplies, breast pump kits, and breast pads from state sales tax.

In Arkansas, mothers who pump breast milk are required to pay sales tax when they buy their equipment. Breast pumps are basic necessities for breastfeeding mothers, and taxing pumps limits access to breastfeeding by making the product more expensive.

And while insurance coverage is an option for some, it does not solve the problem. Many individuals have to buy pumps outside of insurance, out of pocket, and are subject to tax. For those covered by insurance, the tax cost still impacts them as sales tax increases the cost to supply pumps on the insurance market, leaving parents with fewer choices despite scientific evidence that breastfeeding fosters infant and maternal health. If insurance is used to help subsidize a premium breast pump model, the parents and the home medical equipment provider are still required to pay their respective taxes.

Eliminating this tax is one step Arkansas can take to improve access to breastfeeding for women at all socioeconomic levels, and it’s a solution that is both simple and cost-effective.

A pre-written message is included on this page; you are encouraged to add information to that message about your company’s work providing Arkansas mothers with breast pumps or purchasing a pump within the state.  Please also share this link with your colleagues and contacts and ask them to take action.

Message Your Representative

From Our Experts

Protecting Your Business With Viable and Sustainable Payer Contracts thumbnail Protecting Your Business With Viable and Sustainable Payer Contracts Read how to protect your durable medical equipment, prosthetic, orthotic, and supplies (DMEPOS) business by ensuring that you have payer contracts that have long-term viability, as this is one of the most important factors in determining whether your company ultimately succeeds or fails. Locking the Digital Door to Risk: Proactive IT and Website Security Strategies to Protect Your Business thumbnail Locking the Digital Door to Risk: Proactive IT and Website Security Strategies to Protect Your Business With the increasing number of cyber threats and data breaches, it's important to take the necessary steps to protect your business from these risks. The PHE Is Over: What's Next? thumbnail The PHE Is Over: What's Next? In today's episode of Industry Matters, Mandi Joyner, Senior Director of Marketing at VGM & Associates, talks with three of VGM's payer, billing, and reimbursement experts Ronda Buhrmester, Dan Fedor, and Craig Douglas about the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) and what that means for members. How to Navigate Supply Chain Issues thumbnail How to Navigate Supply Chain Issues The DMEPOS supply chain was significantly disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the industry is gradually making its way back to a more typical state. Nevertheless, certain procedures that were developed out of necessity during the pandemic's onset and peak have evolved into effective best practices. One of the most crucial lessons learned is the importance of close collaboration between providers and their trusted vendors, manufacturers, or distributors to ensure success. The State of DMEPOS: Where Does Our Industry Stand Now, and Where Are We Heading? thumbnail The State of DMEPOS: Where Does Our Industry Stand Now, and Where Are We Heading? Jeremy Stolz, President, VGM & Associates and VGM Fulfillment, outlines several areas of the DMEPOS industry to consider as part of your business' action plan for 2023. VGM & Associates Releases Latest Playbook on Safeguarding Your Future in DMEPOS thumbnail VGM & Associates Releases Latest Playbook on Safeguarding Your Future in DMEPOS VGM & Associates has released the second playbook of 2023, “VGM Playbook: Safeguarding Your Future in DMEPOS.” Essentially Women Announces Website Redesign thumbnail Essentially Women Announces Website Redesign Essentially Women (EW), a division of VGM & Associates, is excited to unveil their newly redesigned website, essentiallywomen.com. Overcoming Staffing Changes One Piece at a Time thumbnail Overcoming Staffing Changes One Piece at a Time VGM member Jim Lehan, Business Operations Director, Lehan Drugs Inc., describes how his business improved their staffing challenges through hiring and retention, automation, and outsourcing.