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Lactation Visit

Preparing for your clinic 

at CCMC - Wellness Center

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You should receive a confirmation of your booking request shortly! Below are some important updates regarding COVID, more information regarding what to expect at your clinic lactation visit, and info on fees and insurance.  Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions! Most of this information is also in your booking confirmation that was just sent to your email. I am looking forward to working with you!

Thank you for Booking!

Clinic Location

 My clinic site is located in Clinton County Medical Center's Wellness Center. CCMC is in the Southpoint Mall in St. Johns. Enter the main Clinton County Medical Center entrance and turn left (the Ouch Urgent care is to the right). Please check in at the registration window and let them know you are there for a lactation consultation with Abbie. Have a seat in the waiting room and one of us will bring you back to my consultation room at your appointment time.

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Clinton County Medical Center - Wellness Center
1005 Old U.S. 27 Suite 100, St Johns, MI 48879

Take a peek inside the clinic space!

Covid Precautions

  • You and any support persons with you will be COVID-19 screened by a staff member and have a temperature check upon entering the building.

  • I will be wearing a mask for the entire consultation, and may wear eye protection if deemed necessary or as desired.

  • You as the client and any adult or children over age of 2 who accompany you to your visit are required to wear a mask for the entire duration of your visit and when in CCMC. Masks must be worn over the nose and mouth.

  • I will wash my hands with soap and water prior to the start of our consultation.

  • I will be sanitizing my or washing my hands as often as necessary during the consult. This includes but is not limited to before and after touching: you or your baby, my computer, mouse, pen, supplies in my office, other surfaces in my office, etc.

  • I have disposable gloves which I always wear when performing an oral assessment on your baby, but will also be happy to wear anytime I am touching you or your baby upon request.

  • I will use a disposable single-use pad on my scale prior to weighing your baby.

  • After your visit is concluded and between each client, I will wipe down my scale, couch and chair, ottoman, door handles, computer, mouse, pen, and any other touched or used items. Soft surfaces like demo dolls or cloth breast models are sprayed with a disinfecting spray.

Preparing for your Visit

There are a few things you can do to prepare for our visit together! This helps us spend our time focused on you, your baby, and meeting your goals. 

 

If you can plan on your baby needing to feed sometime within an hour after the start of your appointment time that would be best! I know however that sometimes, it is hard to predict when babies will be hungry. If your baby needs to eat shortly before your visit, please feed your baby enough to take the edge off of their hunger, but if possible not a full feeding so your baby will be ready to eat again sometime during your visit.

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If you have a breast pump, please bring it with you as well as your power cord, tubes / flanges / bottles. We will make sure your flanges are fitting you correctly and will discuss how to optimize your pumping routine!

 

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Secure Client Portal

I use a secure, HIPAA client portal for all communication, intake forms, notes, and booking. You can download the app, Practice Better, to your phone or tablet. You will be receiving an email from me inviting you to create your account and join the portal. This can be done via the app or on a computer.

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Once you book your appointment online, you will receive another email with your appointment date and time that you can confirm.

 

When downloading the app, be sure to allow notifications as this is how we will communicate, how you will know which forms to complete, and also will let you know when your visit notes and education are posted to your portal. Alternately, some clients elect to have their notifications go to their email.

 

Your baby will have their own profile with their own health record and intake form. to complete their pending forms and see the visit notes and care plan after our appointment. In order to switch between your record and your baby's record, follow these instructions: 

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  • In the top right corner of the toolbar, click or tap on the profile image. 

  • A menu will appear with an option to "Switch Profile".

  • Click "Switch Profile".

  • A screen will appear allowing you to select from a list of family records.

  • Here you can select your baby's profile

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Practice Better App (phone or mobile device)

  • In the top left corner, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines)

  • Scroll to the bottom of the menu and select "Switch Profile"

  • Select your baby's profile

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Intake Forms

 

You will have a few intake forms to complete prior to our visit. These will all be in the client portal. At your earliest convenience, please complete your intake form, your baby's intake form, sign the consent for care, and fill out your COVID screening form.​ You will get notifications of the forms you need to complete via the portal.

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  • Your Forms:​

    • Consent for Care, Payment Policy, Disclaimer, Release of Liability​

    • COVID Screen and Cancellation Policy

    • HIPAA Acknowledgement

    • Lactation Consultation Intake Form - Parent (your health history)

    • Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale

  • Your Baby's Form:​

    • Lactation Consultation Intake Form - Infant (baby's health history)​

 

Filling out these forms are very helpful for me to prepare for your consult and take into account any factors which will help you reach your goals!

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Secure Messaging​

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Practice Better also has secure messaging which works like texting. This will allow us to communicate with each other before and after your visit while documenting it all in your chart!

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You can access helpful tutorials on accessing and using portal on the Practice Better website. Below is a video tour of the client portal on a desktop:

During Our Visit Together

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During your consult, here is what you can expect!

 

Together, we will:

  • Review your completed intake forms

  • Discuss your feeding goals and goals for the visit

  • Make a short term and longer term plan to help you meet your goals

 

Over the course of the visit, I will:

  • Take a thorough history of both you and your baby

  • Do a full assessment of:

    • You and your breasts

    • Your baby, including an oral function assessment

    • A full feeding if you are direct breastfeeding or by bottle if that is how your baby is feeding

  • Weigh your baby so we can check your baby's growth.

  • Complete a pump fit assessment and ensure you are well oriented to your pump and pumping technique.

  • Answer any questions you have regarding your breasts and nipples, milk supply, feeding your baby, and your baby's growth and nutrition.

 

I will then share my assessments with you, we will formulate a plan going forward both for you and your baby, and I will review the education with you that will be provided in the portal. We will also make a follow-up plan if indicated. 

Support After Your Visit

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After our visit, you will receive a detailed Care Plan both for you and for your baby via Practice Better. It explains all we discussed during the visit and tips and techniques to meet your goals. Your care plan contains detailed instructions, videos, E-Handouts, and website links for more resources. This can be found under the menu in the "Session Notes" section.

 

My complete notes are also faxed to both your healthcare provider, and your baby's healthcare provider. If I recommend you be seen by any other professional, I will also initial those referrals and fax them to the recommended provider. 


After our visit, I am available to you for two weeks via secure chat in Practice Better for any questions you have and for support! If new issues arise, you would like more hands-on help, or if after two weeks, you are still having challenges, you may benefit from a follow-up consultation.

Insurance Coverage

I'm excited to let you know that I have partnered with Lactation Network to help get your consultation covered by your insurance company! This is an incredible organization that helps parents and parents-to-be get the breastfeeding support they deserve, covered by their insurance. It's always worth checking to see if your insurance plan may qualify!

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For select health plans, the Lactation Network covers up to six, 90-minute lactation consultations with a registered IBCLC, like me, at no out of pocket cost. They handle the paperwork and bill your insurance directly. Pre-approval is required and is obtained online through Lactation Network.

 

Participating plans for in-person visits are most:

  • BCBS PPO Plans

  • Anthem PPO Plans

  • United PPO Plans

  • Cigna PPO Plans

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Once you hear you are approved (usually within a few hours), you will not need to pay me at the end of our visit, will owe nothing out of pocket for your consultation, and the Lactation Network will take care of the rest! Let’s see if we can get it covered! 

 

To see if your specific plan participates and get pre-approved, click here to fill out your application or scan the QR code below!

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Self-Pay / HSA

If your plan isn't listed above or doesn't participate, or if for some reason you are not approved for coverage by the Lactation Network, you will just pay me at the end of your visit. 

 

  • Fee schedule is by the hour and every 15 minute portion therein. Fee for a postpartum lactation consultation is $100/hr. 

    • I accept cash, personal check, or major credit/debit cards.

    • If you would like to use a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA) you may use that as well!  

  • I will also provide you a Superbill (like a receipt with insurance codes) via the portal that you can send to your insurance company to request reimbursement.

    • Reimbursement may vary, but per the Affordable Care Act, you are entitled to breastfeeding support coverage.

    • It is always a good idea to call your insurance company ahead of time to determine if they cover lactation support, at what percent, and any stipulations. I would be considered an out-of-network provider.

    • They may request the following information:

      • My Provider Number (NPI): 1902346380

      • I usually use procedure codes:

        • S9443

        • 99401, 99402, 99403, or 99404

      • I use diagnosis code Z39.1

    • It may also be helpful to ask your insurance company if a referral from your provider will help with reimbursement. If so, your provider can fax a referral to me at (517) 225-0073.

I am so looking forward to working with you! Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions at all. 

See you soon!

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Abbie

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