California's Donor Milk Law Spurs 30% Demand Increase, Calls for More Donors
TL;DR
California's AB3059 expands donor milk access, offering a competitive edge in neonatal care by ensuring medically fragile infants receive essential nutrition without financial barriers.
AB3059 mandates insurance coverage for donor milk and removes hospital licensing hurdles, systematically increasing access to this vital resource for newborns in need.
The surge in demand for donor milk under AB3059 highlights a collective opportunity to enhance neonatal health and equity across California communities.
Discover how donating breast milk can save lives, with Mothers’ Milk Bank California now offering weekend screenings and doorstep pickups to simplify the process.
Found this article helpful?
Share it with your network and spread the knowledge!
California's Assembly Bill 3059, known as the Human Milk Bill, has led to a 30% increase in demand for donor milk, putting pressure on Mothers’ Milk Bank California to find more donors. The law mandates commercial insurance coverage for medically necessary pasteurized donor human milk and removes the requirement for hospitals to have a tissue bank license to distribute milk from a licensed tissue bank, making it more accessible for families with vulnerable newborns.
Jennifer Benito, CEO of Mothers’ Milk Bank California, highlighted the breakthrough in equitable neonatal care but stressed the need for community action to meet the rising demand. With over 36,000 preterm births in California in 2023, the need for donor milk is critical not only in NICUs but also in Well Baby and Postpartum units, where it can reduce feeding complications and support gut health.
To facilitate donations, Mothers’ Milk Bank California has introduced new options including Saturday donor screening appointments, at-home milk pick-up in select counties, and drop-off at their San Jose headquarters or collection centers. These efforts aim to ensure that every baby in need can receive donor milk without delay, emphasizing the importance of community support in the success of AB3059.
Curated from News Direct
