Budget Amendment ID: FY2013-S4-593-R2

2nd Redraft EHS 593

Healthy Children Special Commission

Ms. Candaras and Mr. Joyce moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section 155, the following section:-

“SECTION155A. There shall be a special commission to enhance the health of children and women which shall advise the commissioner of public health and the public health council on the current and future roles that lactation and breastfeeding counseling and the education of pregnant and nursing mothers may play in the containment of health care costs and the enhancement of the health of women and children.  The commission shall consist of the the commissioner of public health or a designee, who shall serve as chair, the house chair of the joint committee on public health or a designee, the senate chair of the joint committee on public health or a designee, an obstetrician designated by the Massachusetts Chapter of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, a pediatrician designated by the American Academy of Pediatrics, a representative from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, a representative of the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, a representative from the Massachusetts Hospital Association, a representative from the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, a representative from the Massachusetts Women and Infants Program, a representative of the Healthy Children Project, a representative from the Massachusetts Nurses Association, a representative for the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrical and Neonatal Nurses and a representative of the women’s legislative caucus.  The commission shall file a report with the department of public health and the joint committee on public health not later than January 15, 2013 detailing the state of breastfeeding and breast milk feeding in the commonwealth and setting forth recommendations, together with drafts of legislation, if any, necessary to carry its recommendations into effect.”