KODH News - Bread Feading Equipment Repeal

News Article

By Yessenia Molina

Bend, Ore.--Good news for nursing mothers everywhere. The internal revenue service has decided to repeal a ruling that denied mothers the ability to list breast feeding equiptment as a medical expense.

The action was spurred by Oregon's junior Senator, Jeff Merkley.

He said the IRS decision doesn't just benefit nursing mothers.

Studies show children who have been breast-fed are not ill as often and that means overall health care costs can be cut by billions.

A message that long term St.Charles lactation nurse Becky McColl said solidifies her efforts.

"it just feels really good. It feels like there's momentum and support for breast feeding among medical and community health people and even now the legislature," Becky McColl.

McColl said this new repeal will mean that mothers can use their medical savings account dollars to purchase the pump.

That reduces their out-of-pocket expense by 30 percent.

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