Bill > H3496

This bill aims to improve breastfeeding care by establishing licensing requirements for lactation consultants in Massachusetts. The key provisions include: 1. Adding a licensed lactation consultant as a member of the Board of Allied Health Professions. 2. Defining "lactation care and services" and "lactation consultant" in state law. 3. Requiring lactation consultants to be licensed by the state, with the licensure standards based on certification by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBCLC). 4. Allowing other healthcare professionals and lactation support providers to offer breastfeeding education and counseling services, as long as they do not use the title "licensed lactation consultant" unless they are properly licensed. 5. Providing a transition period of 3 years for existing IBCLC practitioners to become licensed in the state. The goal of the bill is to establish a regulatory framework for lactation care in order to improve access to and the quality of breastfeeding support services in Massachusetts.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H3496