Guides, billing references, and practice-building advice for lactation consultants.
SimplePractice lists 3.15% + $0.30 on card payments; Stripe's standard rate is 2.9% + $0.30. Here's the platform markup, the ACH workaround, and what to check.
What changed for the September 2026 IBCLC exam: 200-800 scaled scoring, French Live Remote Proctoring, and the June 8 application deadline.
Honest math on The Lactation Network's flat rate, direct commercial credentialing, and cash-pay with superbills — with the 2025 BCBS and Anthem rupture as the case study every new IBCLC should read before choosing a model.
Two independent tracks — practice licensure and Medicaid recognition — determine how an IBCLC gets paid, state by state. Updated for May 2026.
What actually works for IBCLCs pursuing commercial paneling: payer-specific gatekeeping, CAQH, The Lactation Network, single-case agreements, Modifier 33, and incident-to.
Where IBCLCs can bill commercial and Medicaid plans directly in 2026, the five contracting lanes, and why most solo practices still lead with cash-pay.
A copy-paste lactation SOAP note template for IBCLCs, with ICD-10 coding maps, three worked examples, and the 8 claim-denial reasons to avoid.
Generic EHRs charge you monthly, then leave you to buy lactation charting template packs and spend evenings building forms. Here is what that actually costs an IBCLC in private practice.
What's inside your IBCLC scope, what's not, where the lines are with physicians and CLCs, and why it matters for how you run your practice.
Estimate recommended intake per feed, model supplementation after a weighted feed, and see the math in plain English.
Scope of practice, earning potential, and insurance recognition compared. Plus the common CLC to IBCLC progression path.
What's required, what's overkill, and how to get compliant without hiring a consultant.
SOAP structure, charting workflow, legal protection, and how to stop retyping notes at 10 PM.
Three IBCLC certification pathways compared - education requirements, clinical hours, costs ($4K-20K), and a 1-4 year timeline to your credential.
Every CPT and ICD-10 code IBCLCs bill, 2026 cash-pay rate ranges, a superbill field checklist, and the denial reasons that sink new claims.
Legal setup, software, billing, referrals, and your first home visit - from someone who's been there.