Families across the country are having trouble finding baby formula. The main reason is the February recall of certain Abbott baby formulas. This recall caused increased demand for other brands of formula.
Massachusetts is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) help families find safe, healthy feeding options for their infants.
The state has received three waivers from the USDA. These cover:
- formula brands other than Abbott without the need for medical documentation;
- different container sizes that had not been covered;
- help retailers to exchange recalled formulas purchased with WIC benefits for similar formula products.
As a result, Massachusetts WIC now covers eight added formula brands and 68 new formula products/can sizes.
MassHealth covers formula for members when it is medically needed such as allergies, difficulty absorbing nutrients, and feeding tubes.
MassHealth is helping members more easily get formula by;
- allowing members to get formula at pharmacies without prior authorization (PA)
- instructing health plans to waive PA for formula needed for medical reasons
- temporarily allowing durable medical equipment (DME) providers to provide formula to members before administrative approval.
- Making the administrative approval process easier.
MassHealth has released the following guidance to providers and managed care plans. This guidance outlines all of the information in this statement, and gives additional general information about access to formula.
If families are finding it hard to find formula, they should contact their local WIC office by calling the 800 number on the back of their WIC card or emailing WIC at wicinfo.dph@massmail.state.ma.us