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Lactation Access Transforming Communities in Hawaiʻi
from ECAS_EOY2024_Update
by ECAS Hawaii
Support and Scale Innovative Practices
LATCH (Lactation Access Transforming Communities in Hawaiʻi) is co-led by Breastfeeding Hawaiʻi and ECAS. In partnership with Med-QUEST, HMSA, SMALLIFY, and lactation consultants (IBCLCs) around the state, LATCH employed design thinking to generate innovative responses to the barriers many families experience when seeking lactation care.
In 2024, LATCH prototyped a FastPass program that rapidly connects new parents in need of lactation support.
Prototyped with 59 families in 2024, the FastPass pilot will continue into 2025 to serve families on Medicaid (HMSA QUEST) who would otherwise face multiple barriers to lactation care
In order to connect insurers and families with an adequate network of qualified lactation providers, the FastPass pilot engaged nine lactation consultants serving rural islands to build skills and support each other in the insurance billing process
The pilot helps partners understand how best to get lactation support to under-served families, and how best to reimburse lactation consultants through insurance
LATCH partners work toward policy changes to increase Medicaid coverage for lactation care and encourage insurance plans to expand lactation coverage
Results of the prototype are being closely watched by health insurers who are eager to support this work
LATCH FastPass participants:
The Fast Pass Lactation Consultant “was amazing and gave me hope in transitioning baby from exclusively breastfeeding to breastmilk in bottle. I had to go back work and she helped me with baby to have that smooth transition.
It really is beneficial to families and a great resource to have. I am very happy that insurance covers and is available to families.
