Owen's Law Passes the Senate!
In a 49-0 vote, SB 500 has moved out of the senate chamber.
Now, it's time for the house to take action!
Senate Bill 500 | Owen's Law
Owen's Law, or Senate Bill 500, has been introduced in the Pennsylvania State Senate by Senators Michele Brooks and Judy Schwank. This legislation will expand access to pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM) by requiring Medical Assistance coverage for medically necessary donor milk.
In the House, Representative Donna Oberlander has introduced companion legislation, House Bill 1111, to meet the needs of Pennsylvania's most vulnerable population.
Why donor milk?
Human milk is essential for the well being and health of all infants, but it is especially necessary for infants born prematurely or ill. For medically fragile infants, an all human milk diet provides unparalleled protection against severely life-threatening complications that can lead to lengthy hospital stays, multiple procedures, readmissions, life-long disability, or death.
Owen's Law
Owen's Law will require medical assistance coverage for medically necessary donor milk for infants in inpatient and outpatient settings who have serious health conditions such as:
- Very low birth weight
- Gestational age equal to or less than 34 weeks
- A high risk of developing necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC)
- Congenital heart disease requiring surgery in the first year of life
- A congenital or acquired gastrointestinal disease
- The need for an organ or bone marrow transplant
- Neonatal abstinence syndrome; or
- Other conditions where the use of donor milk is deemed medically necessary.