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Statement

Mom Advocate Praises Change in Regulations As ‘Good for Babies, Good for Moms and Good for Public Health’

February 10, 2011
Maternal Health

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

Statement of Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner On the IRS Decision to Allow Deductions And Reimbursement for Breastfeeding Equipment
The announcement today by the Internal Revenue Service that they will reverse the rule preventing moms from deducting the cost of breastfeeding equipment as a medical expense is good for babies, good for moms and good for the public health. Every major authority on child health, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommends breastfeeding infants in order to ensure optimal health for both mother and child.
 
MomsRising and its more than one million members have been puzzled and disappointed by the IRS’ position that breast pumps and other equipment could not be allowed as medical tax deductions and reimbursed by flexible health spending accounts based on the IRS' decision that ‘breastfeeding does not have enough health benefits to qualify as a form of medical care.’ That conclusion ran counter to volumes of medical research proving the health benefits of breast milk, and the U.S. Government's efforts to promote breastfeeding among new mothers, based on those studies.
 
Over the last few weeks, MomsRising and its members ignited a serious online conversation – which blanketed blogs, Twitter and Facebook – about the importance of breastfeeding and the need for the IRS to extend to breastfeeding equipment the same consideration given to products like denture adhesives and acne cream, which are deductible. We are delighted to see the agency change this ruling.
 
This is a great victory for moms and families everywhere, and because breastfeeding helps strengthen infants’ immune systems and prevent the spread of disease, this is also an important advance for public health.
 
MomsRising also wants to thank Senators Jeff Merkley and Tom Harkin and Representatives Sander Levin and Carolyn Maloney for their leadership on this important health issue and for calling on the IRS to reverse its earlier decision.
 

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.