NC S840

Appropriates $500,000 in nonrecurring funds for fiscal year 2024-2025 to support lactation consultant training programs at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University and Johnson C. Smith University, distributed equally between both institutions.

Authorized uses of funds include leasing or costs for teaching facilities and clinical training sites, student aid or scholarships, and compensation for program teachers and preceptors.

Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities, shall provide technical assistance including developing culturally appropriate training content, recruiting from historically marginalized populations, recruiting underutilized providers as instructors, and identifying rural and medically underserved areas with lactation consultant shortages.

Requires the Department of Health and Human Services to submit a report by May 1, 2026, to legislative oversight committees evaluating program outcomes, including number of trained consultants by race/ethnicity and work site, patient experiences, health insurance coverage, contributing factors to health disparities, patient satisfaction, and breastfeeding/chest feeding initiation and duration rates.

Act becomes effective July 1, 2024.