Medically Necessary Infant Formula Act

Full Title:
Constance C. McDaniel Medically Necessary Infant Formula and Donor Milk Act

Summary#

This bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to set up a three-year pilot program called the Medically Necessary Infant Formula Pilot Program. The Program will give financial help to certain parents or legal guardians who are not eligible for WIC (the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children) so they can buy covered infant formula or pasteurized donor human milk. The Secretary may give assistance by vouchers, reimbursements, or grants to local groups. The Secretary must share information about the Program with families and do an annual evaluation and report to Congress about how many people used the Program and how much formula or donor milk was provided. The bill defines who is eligible, including parents of children under age one (or older if medically needed) and parents with medical reasons for not breastfeeding or children with feeding issues. The bill authorizes $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031 and ends the Secretary’s authority to run the Program three years after the law is enacted.

What it means for you#

  • If you are a parent or legal guardian of an infant and you are ineligible for WIC, you may be able to get financial help to buy legally sold infant formula or pasteurized donor milk if you meet the medical eligibility rules in the bill.
  • A medical professional (for example, a pediatrician, obstetrician-gynecologist, general practitioner, or nurse practitioner) can diagnose a medical need that makes you eligible.
  • The Department of Health and Human Services will decide how the help is delivered (vouchers, reimbursements, or grants) and will provide information to families about the Program.
  • The Program is temporary: it is a three-year pilot and ends three years after the law is enacted.

Expenses#

  • The bill authorizes $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, and 2031.
  • No publicly available information on estimated total outlays for the three-year pilot beyond these annual authorizations.

Proponents' View#

The bill creates a pilot to provide financial assistance to eligible parents who cannot get WIC and who need medically necessary infant formula or pasteurized donor milk. It includes steps for outreach, evaluation, and annual reporting to Congress.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.