Proposed senate bill would make donor breast milk more readily available

Olympia, WA — Sen. Yasmin Trudeau (D) has put forth a bill that would allow new parents to affordably access donor breast milk. The plan would require health plans and the state Medicaid program to provide coverage for donor breast milk.

"Donor breast milk isn't just for babies, it's also for the moms who are struggling," said concerned citizen Lindsey Pervinich. "I was lucky to be at a hospital with immediate access to donor breast milk, but a families access to breast milk should not be based on luck or an insurance company's approval. Babies often come long before we're prepared for them and requiring insurance preauthorization will only delay the care donor breast milk can provide."

Sen. Trudeau said this bill is very close to her heart because she struggled producing milk after the birth of her first child. The bill, SB 5702, also requires the Department of Health to adopt standards for ensuring milk bank safety, consistent with evidence-based guidelines that address donor screening, milk handling and processing and record keeping.