A Turning Point…
For Lactation Equity in California: Why AB 2160 Matters.
In California, a quiet but powerful shift is underway, one that could transform access to lactation care for thousands of families, especially those most impacted by systemic inequities.
Assembly Bill 2160 (AB 2160) is designed to strengthen access to lactation services under Medi-Cal. At its core, the bill recognizes the value of International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) as essential healthcare providers and moves to allow them to bill Medi-Cal directly.
What’s happening now and why it matters
Currently, IBCLCs in California are not recognized as independent Medi-Cal providers, which means they often cannot bill directly for their services.
Instead, lactation care is typically routed through physicians, nurses, or clinics thus creating barriers such as:
Delays in care
Limited access to culturally competent providers
Out-of-pocket costs for families
Fragmented, inconsistent support
For Black families who already face disproportionate rates of maternal and infant health complications these barriers are not just inconvenient, they are consequential.
What AB 2160 would change
AB 2160 aims to modernize and clarify Medi-Cal lactation coverage by:
Allowing IBCLCs to enroll as Medi-Cal providers and bill directly
Reducing unnecessary barriers such as referrals or prior authorization
Defining a clearer continuum of lactation services—from education to clinical care
Establishing more transparent billing and reimbursement pathways
If passed, this bill would create a pathway for IBCLCs to practice more independently and sustainably within California’s healthcare system.
Why this matters for Black maternal health
Nearly 1 in 4 births in California are covered by Medi-Cal, making it one of the most powerful levers for improving maternal and infant health outcomes.
For Black women who experience higher rates of maternal morbidity, mortality, and breastfeeding disparities, access to consistent, culturally aligned lactation care is critical.
The bigger picture
AB 2160 is part of a broader shift to:
Recognize lactation care as essential, not optional
Expand access beyond traditional medical gatekeeping
Address inequities in how care is delivered and who is able to provide it
At its core, this bill asks an important question:
Who gets to provide care, who gets paid for it, and who gets access?
A note from The B.L.A.C.K. Course
As founders of, this moment is both professional and deeply personal.
Two of our founders are based here in California and like many Black lactation professionals, we have navigated significant barriers to enter this field and to sustain a practice within it.
From limited access to clinical training, to financial constraints, to systems that were not designed with us in mind. Becoming an IBCLC required persistence at every step. And even after certification, the barriers did not end.
The inability to bill Medi-Cal directly has meant that many highly trained IBCLCs, especially those rooted in community, have been limited in their ability to serve the very families who need them most.
The B.L.A.C.K. Course was created to change that pathway—to train and support the next generation of Black IBCLCs with intention, clarity, and community.
AB 2160 aligns with that vision.
Because expanding access to care must also include expanding opportunity to practice.
This bill has the potential to open doors for future IBCLCs to not only enter the field—but to build sustainable, impactful work within it.
Written by: TaNefer Camara, MS-HCA, IBCLC, CBE-EXPERT
May 2026
AB 2160 Appropriations Update
Since writing this newsletter, AB 2160 has been voted out of the suspense file by the Assembly Appropriations Committee and will now move forward to the Assembly Floor for consideration.
As part of the Appropriations process, the provision that would have allowed IBCLCs to enroll as independent Medi-Cal providers was removed from the bill due to cost concerns. While this amendment changes a significant component of the original bill language, AB 2160 continues to move through the legislative process. We will continue to monitor updates and share additional information as it becomes available.