Breast-Feeding Services Lag the Law

By CATHERINE SAINT LOUIS Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance companies are required to pay for breast pumps and counseling for new mothers to address breast-feeding problems. The aim is to encourage more women to breast-feed so their infants can reap the health benefits, including reduced risks of asthma, leukemia and Type 2 diabetes. “First efforts at breast-feeding are not as intuitive as it seems,” said Dr. Linda Rosenstock, chairwoman of the Institute of Medicine’s committee on preventive services for women, adding, “Some women need additional professional support so they do it well and continue to do it.” Despite the law, many new mothers have found it nearly impossible to get...