We need you to make phone calls! The best news is, this doesn’t cost a thing only 45 seconds of your time. Here’s the list of talking points and the numbers of the Vermont Senators and Representatives. Read through the bullet points briefly and then call in with the “Request” part.
-Calling on behalf of the Brow family in South Vermont, in a Lebanon, NH, hospital
-Baby Jaeli (JAY-lee) was born four months ago with a chromosome disorder so rare that only four other people are known to have it
-Because of this disorder, among other health problems, she has had violent reactions to any supplement other than breastmilk. Although she is four months old, she is only 8 lbs and desperately needs healthy milk.
-The family works in construction and is struggling under the weight of her medical bills.
-Although breastmilk is available through local milk banks, their Vermont Medicaid will not cover breastmilk at all. The hospital feels forced to exhaust formula attempts and document the baby’s reactions to ALL formula before applying for exemptions – taking precious time this baby doesn’t have.
-The last attempt with formula was a small amount (less than 20%) mixed with breastmilk, and it resulted in violent reaction cycles, including her first loss in body weight within just a couple days, and bleeding from mouth and nose within 24 hours. Yet, the hospital insists that more formula must be tried in order to petition Medicaid to cover the breast milk costs.
-In order to get breastmilk independently, the family must pay upfront with cash. It costs about $5,000 for one month of milk ($4.25 per ounce).
THE REQUEST
-The state of VT should make an immediate exception for Baby Jaeli to insure the milk that she so desperately needs. The state is spending more money controlling her reactions than they would by simply giving her healthy breastmilk. The cost of her hospital admissions alone, instead of sending her home with healthy donor milk, is a waste of tax payer money and an unnecessary strain on a family already under stress.
Contact Sen. Patrick Leahy
Washington, D.C. Office:
Phone: (202) 224-4242
Fax: (202) 224-3479
Burlington Office: (more district offices)
199 Main Street, 4th Floor
Burlington, Vermont 05401
Phone: (802) 863-2525
Burlington Office:
Phone: (802) 863-2525
Montpelier Office:
Phone: (802) 229-0569
Fax: (802) 229-1915
Contact Sen. Bernard Sanders
Washington, D.C. Office:
Phone: (202) 224-5141
Fax: (202) 228-0776
Burlington Office: (more district offices)
1 Church Street, 2nd Floor
Burlington, Vermont 05401
Phone: (802) 862-0697
Fax: (802) 860-6370
Burlington Office:
Phone: (802) 862-0697
Fax: (802) 860-6370
Brattleboro Office:
Phone: (802) 254-8732
Fax: (802) 254-9207
St. Johnsbury Office:
Phone: (802) 748-9269
Fax: (802) 748-0302
Contact Rep. Peter Welch
Washington, D.C. Office:
Phone: (202) 225-4115
Fax: (202) 225-6790
Burlington Office: (more district offices)
30 Main Street, Suite 350
Burlington, Vermont 05401
Phone: (802) 652-2450
Burlington Office:
Phone: (802) 652-2450
The response has been fantastic! Let’s let them know just how important this is. We are DOING THIS!