Our December Holiday Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 2nd, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Shannon Scott, MPH, IBCLC will be our speaker.

This meeting was NOT recorded.

HALCEA Education Series: Texas Lactation Consultant Landscape Analysis

Abstract: In 2025, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 136 requiring Medicaid reimbursement for lactation consultant services. To support implementation, MCH Impact Partners conducted the Texas Lactation Consultant Landscape Analysis, the first statewide mixed-methods study of the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) workforce in Texas. Surveys (n=152), key informant interviews (n=10), and a policy scan revealed significant disparities in provider distribution, especially across rural regions, and identified major administrative barriers including unclear enrollment pathways, inconsistent billing codes, and lack of licensure. Despite these challenges, providers expressed strong interest in Medicaid participation and highlighted solutions such as telehealth expansion, clear state guidance, and workforce pipeline investments. Findings underscore that HB 136 implementation must align reimbursement design, workforce development, and administrative clarity to ensure families gain timely access to clinical lactation care.

Disclaimer: Houston Area Lactation Consultants & Educators Association has been accepted by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners® (IBLCE®) as a Preferred Provider for the listed Continuing Education Recognition Points (CERPs) programme. Determination of CERPs eligibility or CERPs Provider status does not imply IBLCE’s endorsement or assessment of education quality. As a Preferred Provider, Houston Area Lactation Consultants & Educators Association attests that it complies with the WHO Code and subsequent WHA resolutions.