Lawmakers Urge IRS to Allow Breastfeeding Supplies as a Medical Expense

Iowa Senator Tom Harkin was among more than 40 Democratic lawmakers in the House and Senate who wrote to the IRS last week, urging the IRS to recognize breastfeeding supplies as a medical expense.  Currently, breastfeeding supplies are not considered a medical expense, so the cost of the supplies is neither deductible, nor eligible for reimbursement from a flex plan or HSA. 

In their letter to the IRS, lawmakers say that the "IRS is at odds with the growing body of medical evidence showing that breastfeeding has proven health benefits for both mothers and babies."

You can read the letter here, and a news article about it here.