Resources, benefits available to support breastfeeding mothers

The Lactation Support Program supports breastfeeding mothers at work. Research has shown lactation support from an employer helps to lower health care costs, turnover rates and absenteeism while increasing employee and student productivity and morale.

To help mothers be successful in their transition back to work after having a child, the program includes the locations of all West Lafayette campus lactation spaces and a mother's information packet. Additional resources available include how to obtain lactation consulting through University medical plans, as well as local and national resources for additional support.

All Purdue faculty and staff medical plans cover breast pumps and supplies under the Women’s Health Provision at 100 percent, not subject to deductible. This benefit is limited to the purchase or rental of one breast pump per year as ordered or prescribed by a physician. Rental is also allowed up to the purchase price and includes related supplies.

Options for purchasing or renting a breast pump:

• Purchase or rent one breast pump per birth as ordered/prescribed by a doctor. There are no restrictions on what type or where the pump is purchased. The cost of a rental is limited to the amount it would take to buy the breast pump; related supplies are included and covered at 100 percent under the Women's Health Provision. Doctors may have additional information on where to purchase a breast pump and whether facilities work directly with insurance. Otherwise, an employee may purchase the pump and then file a claim for reimbursement. Contact Anthem at 855-502-6365 with questions about a particular pump.
• Visit edgepark.com/breastpumps -- Employees will be asked to supply state of residence and insurance company and then will have a list of pumps to select from; once a pump is selected and the due date is indicated, Edge Park will tell the employee when to order the pump.
• Visit https://breastpumps.byramhealthcare.com -- Employees will be asked about insurance carrier and will then follow similar steps as with Edge Park.

Additional information on the Lactation Support Program is available on the Human Resources Family Friendly website.