Because new federal legislation deems breast pumps and other lactation supplies as medical care expenses, faculty and staff members who are enrolled in a Select Benefits medical care account can submit lactation supply expenses for reimbursement.

No prescription for purchase is necessary.

The same deadlines apply; 2010 Select Benefits enrollees have until March 15 to purchase items that are covered under Select Benefits, and until April 30 to submit those expenses for reimbursement. Select Benefits enrollees for 2011 have until the same dates next year to purchase items and submit for reimbursement. The IRS has not yet provided guidance regarding which accessories will be covered, so individuals are encouraged to exercise good judgment when filing claims.

"We are making this benefit available immediately, because the timing of the government's letter of determination provides a very small window for reimbursement of 2010 expenses," said Paul Bursic, director of Benefit Services. "The law also stipulates that you cannot enroll in or increase your 2011 reimbursement amounts to accommodate the inclusion of these items."

For the purpose of IRS taxation, these expenses are also now deductible medical expenses as long as the taxpayer's total medical expenses exceed 7.5 percent of their adjusted gross income. "A much smaller percentage of the Cornell population will be able to take advantage of this change, because very few people ever incur 7.5 percent of their adjusted gross income in medical expenses," Bursic said.

Michelle Artibee, work/life strategies consultant, Office of Workforce Diversity and Inclusion, said that Cornell also strongly supports the needs of its new mothers and fathers, including a mother's need for a space for lactation and for accommodation for time away from work. "We currently have identified 14 lactation spaces across campus," she said. "If you need accommodation, you should talk with your supervisor or college- or unit-level human resource representative to find times that work for you and for the work of your department. Depending on how you and your supervisor arrange it, flexible work arrangements, unpaid break time, paid break time or unpaid meal time can be used for this accommodation, as well as personal leave, family health or vacation time."

Artibee said that Cornell also offers a three-part workshop twice a year on breastfeeding, an e-list and temporary parking permits for mothers who need to leave campus to breastfeed. Information about Cornell's lactation support program can be found at http://hr.cornell.edu/life/support/lactation.html or by e-mailing wellbeing@cornell.edu.