VGM & ASSOCIATESHealthcare MSO

World Breastfeeding Week, Aug. 1-7, 2021

Published in Member Communities on August 04, 2021

Breastfeeding COVID-19August 1 – 7 is World Breastfeeding Week. This year’s theme is Protect Breastfeeding: A Shared Responsibility. Breastfeeding has many benefits for infants, mothers, and children.  The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants are exclusively breastfed for the first six months while introducing complementary foods for at least one year.

Protecting breastfeeding means protecting the time working women need to give birth, recover, and breastfeed their children. Moms also require job security and assurances that their jobs are not jeopardized due to pregnancy or maternity leave. States, including Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are beginning to implement laws that help solidify

Being a new mom is hard, but being a new mom during the COVID-19 pandemic raises new questions. Is it safe to breastfeed? What if I have COVID or have been exposed to COVID? Should I breastfeed then? According to the CDC and WHO, mothers are still encouraged to remain together with their infants, practice skin-to-skin contact and/or kangaroo care whether or not they or their infants have been suspected, probable, or confirmed COVID-19 virus infection. Women with COVID-19 can breastfeed if they choose to do so.

Several states have passed or introduced legislation to help protect breastfeeding, including:

  • PA HB 1739, An Act providing for workplace accommodations for nursing mothers
  • WI AB 476, An act to require an employer to provide reasonable break time and accommodation for an employee who is breast-feeding
  • KY BR 257, An act relating to Medicaid coverage for lactation support services and breastfeeding equipment

H.R. 3110, PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act, has been introduced on the federal level in the House of Representatives and currently has 8 co-sponsors as of August 4, 2021. 

VGM and Essentially Women are proud to partner with Ardo and Motif, who both offer breast pumps, breastfeeding accessories and more. For more information on each of these vendor partners, visit the vendor pages on the VGM member portal or the myEW member portal.

For more information on breastfeeding and World Breastfeeding Week, visit https://www.paho.org/en/campaigns/world-breastfeeding-week-campaign-2021#materials.

Resources:
World Breastfeeding Week Campaign 2021. (2021). Retrieved from: https://www.paho.org/en/campaigns/world-breastfeeding-week-campaign-2021
Breastfeeding Report Card United States, 2020.  (2020). Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/pdf/2020-Breastfeeding-Report-Card-H.pdf


comments powered by Disqus

Get Connected

Stay up-to-date on the latest resources and news provided by VGM & Associates.

Sign Up for Email

From Our Experts

Oxygen Talk with Ronda Buhrmester - All Things NCD Memos and PHE Waivers thumbnail Oxygen Talk with Ronda Buhrmester - All Things NCD Memos and PHE Waivers We chat with Ronda Buhrmester, Senior Director of Payer Relations and Reimbursement at VGM Government Relations about the changes coming to the oxygen equipment medical policy and how the renewed PHE continues to impact waivers. A Deep Dive into the “Competitive Bidding - A Decade Focused on the Wrong Prize the Case for Medicare Investment in DME in 2021” Study thumbnail A Deep Dive into the “Competitive Bidding - A Decade Focused on the Wrong Prize the Case for Medicare Investment in DME in 2021” Study In today's episode of Industry Matters we talk with Brian Leitten, CEO of Leitten Consulting, John Gallagher, VP VGM Government Relations, and Mark Higley, VP VGM Regulatory Affairs about an updated study, “Competitive Bidding - A Decade Focused on the Wrong Prize the Case for Medicare Investment in DME in 2021." VGM's Jim Walsh Retires as General Counsel thumbnail VGM's Jim Walsh Retires as General Counsel VGM Group, Inc., announced today its general counsel, Jim Walsh, has retired as of December 31, 2021. Walsh will remain involved with VGM as an advisor to the senior leadership team and chairman of the board of directors. Branding Matters. A Lot. To Your Customers and Your Bottom Line thumbnail Branding Matters. A Lot. To Your Customers and Your Bottom Line Your company's brand is the most valuable business asset you own. Branding is the single most important thing you can do to positively affect your revenue. As you begin planning for 2022, give these two things a little love, and your business will grow significantly. Branding Matters. A Lot. To Your Customers and Your Bottom Line thumbnail Branding Matters. A Lot. To Your Customers and Your Bottom Line Your company's brand is the most valuable business asset you own. Branding is the single most important thing you can do to positively affect your revenue. As you begin planning for 2022, give these two things a little love, and your business will grow significantly. Branding Matters. A Lot. To Your Customers and Your Bottom Line thumbnail Branding Matters. A Lot. To Your Customers and Your Bottom Line Your company's brand is the most valuable business asset you own. Branding is the single most important thing you can do to positively affect your revenue. As you begin planning for 2022, give these two things a little love, and your business will grow significantly. Referral Source Marketing in Today's Environment thumbnail Referral Source Marketing in Today's Environment Whether you realize it or not, DMEPOS companies today need to put a lot of strategy and thought behind their marketing efforts. Let's look at some steps you should consider to help your referral source marketing efforts in the current landscape. While the focus will be on individuals and organizations supplying care, I'll touch on payers briefly too, as there is some overlap in tactics. Referral Source Marketing in Today's Environment thumbnail Referral Source Marketing in Today's Environment Whether you realize it or not, DMEPOS companies today need to put a lot of strategy and thought behind their marketing efforts. Let's look at some steps you should consider to help your referral source marketing efforts in the current landscape. While the focus will be on individuals and organizations supplying care, I'll touch on payers briefly too, as there is some overlap in tactics.

Stay one step ahead of your competition.

Become a Member