Westside Story Newspaper – Online The News of The Empire – Sharing the Quest for Excellence
By Bo Tefu and Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media
On Sept. 29, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill authored by Assemblymember Akilah Weber (D-La Mesa) that ensures babies in neonatal intensive care units receive donor breast milk vital for their health.
Under new guidelines set by Assembly Bill (AB) 3059, medical facilities will provide families donor milk for their babies regardless of restrictions their medical insurance might have.
Weber said that the bill represents the final step in expanding access to donor milk for all families, making a difference in health outcomes for newborns and their families. AB 3059 defines donor milk as “essential” under commercial insurance coverage – a designation that Medi-Cal requires as well for payment.
“Addressing disparities in health care starts with ensuring access to essential nutrition,” said Weber. “With the mortality rate for Black infants being three times higher than that of white infants, it’s crucial we address health care inequities beginning at birth.”
Dr. Michael V. Drake, president of the University of California, thanked Weber and Newsom for their leadership.
“Creating greater access to donor milk is vital for the health and well-being of newborns and their families,” said Drake.
Drake said that the University of California looks forward to supporting vulnerable families and their babies.
According to UC data, breast milk reduces some health risks in infants such as necrotizing enterocolitis, a life-threatening bowel disease that occurs 60% more frequently among Black and Latino children.
AB 3059 lifts a restriction that required hospitals to have a license to give donor milk to patients. The new law only requires that the milk be obtained from accredited sources such as the University of California Health Milk Bank.
