FAQ
Payment Questions
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We are in-network with AETNA! For those with AETNA we will see you without the need for any payment upfront and we will submit a claim to AETNA directly.
For coverage with other insurance companies, see the next FAQ.
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The Lactation Network (TLN) works with IBCLCs and contracts with insurance companies to secure coverage for lactation care. TLN currently contracts with Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Cigna, United, Anthem, and the Veterans Affairs Community Care Network. If you are covered by any of those insurance companies OR you have either the Provider Network of America (PNOA) logo or the MultiPlan logo on your insurance card, reach out to TLN prior to booking and see if you qualify for fully-covered consults.
Once you know you qualify for fully-covered consults through TLN, book your TLN consult.
If you do not qualify for fully-covered consults through TLN, book your self-pay, out-of-network consult.
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There is no charge for consults that are pre-approved by The Lactation Network.
While most consults involve no need for supplies, we do carry some equipment for use as-needed. Some of the supplies we stock are available at no cost to you, and others are available as a separate, retail transaction.
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For those with out-of-network coverage, Medicaid, or no insurance, we take payment in full on the day of your consult. Our prices are communicated during the booking process, and they can be found here.
While most consults involve no need for supplies, we do carry some equipment for use as-needed. Some of the supplies we stock are available at no cost to you and others are available as a separate, retail transaction.
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Yes! We secure payment for all out-of-network visits on the day of your care. For those with private, out-of-network coverage, we will submit a claim to your insurance company. We will code the visit with coverage in mind but we cannot guarantee any degree of reimbursement for our care.
For those with AETNA we will see you without the need for any payment upfront and we will submit a claim to AETNA directly.
We do no submit claims to Medicaid.
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The National Women’s Law Center has a set of instructions and a template letter you can use to appeal your insurance company’s decision to deny coverage.
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While most consults involve no need for supplies, we do carry some equipment for use as-needed. Some of the supplies we stock are available at no cost to you, and others are available as a separate, retail transaction.
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Credit and debit cards (including most FSA/HSA cards) can be used to secure and to pay for an appointment.
If you need to pay in cash, let us know a day ahead of time by texting at 828.373.3345.
Other Questions
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Our IBCLCs have experience with a wide range of lactation needs, including: low milk supply, long or sleepy feedings, difficulty latching, pain with feeding, fussiness around feeding, difficulty removing milk during a feeding, exclusive pumping, slow weight gain, breast or nipple pain, oversupply, feeding after breast/chest surgery, engorgement, back-to-work transitions, nipple shield use, and bottle feeding.
We enjoy helping all babies have feeding success! Our backgrounds include work with premature babies, adopted babies, tongue-tied babies, NICU graduates, twins, and MORE!
For pumping parents, we have received additional training aimed at reducing pumping time and increasing pumping comfort and milk output.
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It depends on what your needs are! Each of the credentials you are most likely to come in contact with has a different training behind it. To help consumers make informed choices when securing lactation help, the US Lactation Consultant Association outlines the differences in types of lactation and breastfeeding support. Asheville Lactation Consulting is exclusively staffed with International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs), and we bring several decades of experience to our work with you.
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An IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) has engaged in rigorous training and education across a wide range of lactation topics, completed hands-on work in the field of lactation, and passed an exam in order to be credentialed by IBLCE.
Asheville Lactation Consulting is exclusively staffed with experienced IBCLCs who have worked in a variety of settings that include: private practice, hospital-based work, outpatient clinic work, support group and group breastfeeding education.
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Our goal is to see you as soon as possible because doing so almost always reduces stress and improves lactation outcomes. For this reason, we offer some weekend and holiday consultations. When booking, ask about the availability of both our in-home and our in-office visits to see which option gets you seen soonest.
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To serve you best, phone support for clinical needs is available for established clients only. If you are an established client, please text us at 828.373.3345 or reach out to us in the Portal, and we can help you schedule phone support.
If you are not a current client and have a lactation concern you would like our help with, please schedule an appointment. For your protection, we do not offer clinical guidance in any form until you have had an appointment with one of us.
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Anyone can text us for non-clinical needs, and we will get back to you as soon as possible. We respond to most texts between the weekday hours of 9am and 4pm and when we are not in consults.
While we have weekend and holiday consults available, we do not work every weekend nor every holiday.
Established clients have two secure ways to reach us: through a HIPAA-compliant texting app downloaded on their device and through the client portal. Using the client portal is our preferred mode of communication for clinical needs.
If you have a clinical concern and you are not a current client, please book an appointment.
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Established clients are advised to communicate with us via the Client Portal.
For quick, non-clinical needs, we can be reached via text at 828.373.3345 or via email at info@ashevillelactation.com.
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We are open 7 days a week, by appointment only. We have a select number of consults on some weekends and some holidays. We are unable to accommodate any type of drop-in care.
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